Emerson Etem Recalled By Arizona Coyotes

After being waived at the end of training camp, the Arizona Coyotes sent Emerson Etem to the minor leagues as part of a roster crunch. That assignment didn’t last long though, as today the team has recalled the 25-year old forward. In a corresponding move, the team has placed Brendan Perlini on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, according to Craig Morgan of AZSports.

Etem was once a promising young prospect of the Anaheim Ducks, selected in the first-round in 2010 and dominating the WHL for the Medicine Hat Tigers. Etem scored 187 points in the two junior seasons after being drafted, but has never been able to find the same success as a professional on a consistent basis. Last year he played only three games for the Anaheim Ducks before suffering a season-ending knee injury in December, pushing him further away from the NHL consciousness.

He’ll try to rebuild his value in Arizona, contributing in a smaller role than what was once expected of him. Should the team insert him into the lineup right away, it would likely be in a fourth-line role to prove he can contribute in more ways than just scoring. In the one game he played for Tucson, he did register two points. Perhaps this will be the year some of that Medicine Hat magic comes to the NHL.