The Arizona Coyotes have reassigned forward Justin Kirkland to their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.
The move comes just as forward Jason Zucker’s suspension is set to expire. Kirkland made his Coyotes debut on January 7th, and played a total of two games on this most recent call-up. He averaged around seven minutes of ice time per game, registering one shot on goal, a shot block, and five hits.
The 27-year-old pivot is a former 25-goal scorer in the AHL who made his NHL debut last season with the Anaheim Ducks. He’s scored 13 points in just 12 games in Tucson so far this season, and now returned there he will likely resume his top-end offensive role with the club.
While he’s back in the AHL for the foreseeable future, it’s not out of question that Kirkland receives another NHL recall. He brings size, versatility, and has shown he can score at the AHL level. Continuing his solid AHL production from the start of this season will be a top priority for him moving forward if he wants to get another shot at a call-up to the NHL roster.