Newz Forum: HOCKEY: Coyotes sign D O'Donnell to three-year deal

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (Ticker) - The Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday signed free agent defenseman Sean O'Donnell, who played in all 82 games for the Boston Bruins last season, to a three-year contract.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 6-3, 230-pound O'Donnell recorded a goal and 10 assists for the Bruins last season, averaging 20 minutes, 35 seconds of ice time, which ranked fifth on the team.

"Sean plays solid, consistent defense," Coyotes general manager Michael Barrett said. "He is physical and at the same time durable. Offensively, he will help our breakout where previously we have seen too many turnovers. Needless to say, we expect Sean to log a lot of minutes."

O'Donnell, 32, has played 10 seasons with Los Angeles, Minnesota, New Jersey and the Bruins, recording 21 goals and 119 assists in 653 games.

His best season came in 2001-02, when he set career highs in assists (22), points (25), plus-minus (plus-27) and ice time (24:50) for the Bruins.

O'Donnell returns to Arizona 10 years after playing the 1994-95 season for the Phoenix Roadrunners of the now defunct International Hockey League.

In another move, the Coyotes acquired Columbus' fourth-round pick in next year's draft for defenseman Radoslav Suchy and a sixth-round selection in the 2005 draft.

Suchy, 28 had spent his entire five-year NHL career with Phoenix, registering 13 goals and 50 assists in 372 games.