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Coyotes bring up ‘big, skilled’ German free agent signing Plachta

Canada v Germany - 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship

Canada v Germany - 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship

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Potentially noteworthy move out of the desert on Monday -- Arizona has recalled former German League power forward Mattias Plachta from its AHL affiliate in Springfield.

Plachta, 24, signed with the Coyotes in May after spending the last three seasons with Adler Mannheim. Last year he showcased a mix of offensive prowess (35 points in 47 games) and grit (73 PIM) and, at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, brings some good size to the Coyotes.

He’ll presumably get a shot at a bottom-six forward role, replacing checking forward Joe Vitale (who was put on IR today in a corresponding move.)

Described as a “big, skilled winger” by Coyotes GM Don Maloney, Plachta isn’t the first undrafted power forward to be plucked out of the German League.

Last year, Calgary signed 6-foot-3, 225-pound David Wolf from Hamburg, who appeared appeared in three regular-season and one playoff game.

Just a couple weeks prior to the Plachta deal in Arizona, Colorado inked Norwegian power forward Andreas Martinsen, who tips the scales at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds.