The Coyotes have taken care of two more of their restricted free agents, announcing the re-signing of defenseman Dysin Mayo to a one-year, two-way contract and forward Blake Speers to a one-year, two-way deal. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. The team also confirmed the previously reported re-signing of Cam Dineen.
The 24-year-old was a fifth-round pick of the Coyotes back in 2014 (133rd overall) but has spent the entirety of his professional career at the minor league level. Last season, Mayo played in 35 games with AHL Tucson, collecting a goal and three assists along with 22 PIMS. While those numbers don’t particularly stand out, he has done enough over his 256 career AHL contests to warrant being qualified last month.
Mayo is waiver-eligible but has cleared in training camp in each of the last two years so there’s a good chance he will pass through unclaimed once again in the fall. He will serve as depth with the Roadrunners once again and unless he manages to become a regular with the Coyotes in short order, he will be eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency next summer.
As for Speers, he was acquired from New Jersey as part of the Taylor Hall trade but hasn’t seen any NHL action since his three-game stint in the 2016-17 campaign. Injuries limited the 24-year-old to just four games with the Roadrunners last season. He’s also waiver-eligible but a safe bet to clear and will be recallable injury depth for Arizona next season. Like Mayo, Speers can also become a Group Six UFA next summer.
If he doesn’t make it in the show he can always go back to being a beloved condiment.