Coyotes defenseman abandons team before the relocation

Since news of the Coyotes relocation to Salt Lake City became public, speculation has ensued about players leaving the team. Now it appears as though the process has begun as defenseman Patrik Koch will reportedly sign in the KHL.

The Coyotes signed Koch to a standard, one-year, entry-level contract over the summer as a European free agent. He was never drafted to the NHL. Given his age, he was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.



Koch spent the season with the Tucson roadrunners of the AHL. He got into just one game with a Coyotes last month. He recorded 10 penalty minutes in just under ten minutes of time on ice and nothing else for his stat sheet.



Days ago, a rumor appeared online, linking the blueliner to the KHL. Given everything that is going on with the Coyotes at the moment, it is perhaps not surprising that he would head back to Europe next season, especially considering the fact that he never really got much of a chance at the NHL level.



We will have to wait to see if this rumor comes to fruition, but it seems very likely that Koch's short NHL journey has ended.

Source: PuckReporter
Coyotes defenseman Patrik Koch to abandon team prior to relocation