The Arizona Coyotes have signed undrafted defenseman Jalen Smereck to a three year, entry-level deal, according to a team release. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. He had been with the team on an amateur tryout agreement earlier in rookie camp and training camp but was cut in late September.
The 19 year old spent last season with the Oshawa of the Ontario Hockey League, scoring five goals and 20 assists in 63 regular season games while adding five points in five postseason contests. This year, he is suiting up for the Flint Firebirds, who acquired his rights back in June. He has four assists in two games with the team so far this season and will remain there despite being signed.
Smereck joins an Arizona prospect group that is fairly deep on the back end, including 2016 first round pick Jakob Chychrun who has a good chance of making their opening roster and offseason acquisition Anthony DeAngelo, who had 43 points in his rookie AHL campaign in 2015-16.
As Smereck is junior aged, he won’t count against Arizona’s 50 contract limit unless he plays in more than nine NHL games this season. The team currently has 47 committed contracts according to Cap Friendly for this season.