Coyotes sign former second-rounder to one-year contract

The Washington Capitals originally selected Sanford in the second round (No. 61 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. The Salem, Massachusetts, product spent two seasons at Boston College after being drafted, then turned pro with the Capitals in 2016.

Midway through Sanford’s first professional season, Washington sent him to the St. Louis Blues at the 2017 trade deadline as part of a package to acquire Kevin Shattenkirk. Sanford finished the 2016–17 season with four goals and eight points in 39 games split between the Capitals and Blues.

Sanford returned to the NHL in the 2018–19 season, skating in 60 games with the Blues and picking up eight goals and 20 points. He also scored four points in eight games during the playoffs to help the Blues win their first Stanley Cup.

After spending two further seasons with the Blues, Sanford was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2021 in exchange for forward prospect Logan Brown. The Senators subsequently flipped Sanford to the Winnipeg Jets at the 2022 trade deadline.

In Arizona, Sanford will reunite with Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong, who was serving as the Blues' assistant GM during that aforementioned 2018-19 Stanley Cup season.

Through 305 career NHL games over parts of six seasons with the Capitals, Blues, Senators, Jets and Predators, Sanford has collected 49 goals and 98 points. He has added eight points (two goals, six assists) in 25 career playoff contests.