Tue Jul 1 15:15:11 2008

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Sauer heads to Phoenix

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Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Coyotes inked defenseman Kurt Sauer to a four-year contract on Tuesday. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We are excited to add Kurt to our defensive corps," said Coyotes general manager Don Maloney. "We see him as someone who can match up against top forwards and handle a lot of ice time."

Sauer, who is a stay-at-home defender, notched six points (1G, 5A) and a career-best plus-17 rating in 54 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season. He added one goal in 10 playoff contests as the Avs were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Red Wings in the second round.

The 27-year-old Minnesota native has collected four goals and 26 points in 288 games with Anaheim and Colorado over five NHL campaigns.

Sauer was a former third-round pick of the Mighty Ducks in 2000, and came to the Avs in a February 2004 deal for defenseman Martin Skoula.