Nov 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Anthony DeAngelo (77) celebrates his goal in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Coyotes: The Diamonds In This Rough Season by Caitlyn Pence

The Arizona Coyotes have assigned Anthony DeAngelo and Laurent Dauphin to the AHL.

The Arizona Coyotes have re-assigned two players to their AHL affiliate in Tucson.

Defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and forward Laurent Dauphin will return to the Roadrunners, but no other moves have been announced.

The moves come after a brutal showing by the team against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Here’s the Yotes press release on the moves:

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – Arizona Coyotes General Manager John Chayka announced today that the Coyotes have assigned center Laurent Dauphin and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo to the Tucson Roadrunners, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate (AHL). The 21-year-old Dauphin has earned 1-1-2 in 18 games with the Coyotes. The 6-foot-1, 181-pound center from Repentigny, Quebec was drafted by the Coyotes in the second round (39th overall) in the 2013 Entry Draft. The 21-year-old DeAngelo has registered 2-5-7 in 11 games with the Coyotes. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound native of Sewell, New Jersey collected 1-4-5 in eight games with Tucson this season. DeAngelo was selected in the first round (19th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2014 Entry Draft.

Dauphin’s demotion seems justified.

He hasn’t really had the impact that I believe management was seeking when this season began.

The youngster did have some good nights in the Arizona Coyotes’ brick red and black, but he was far from consistent and didn’t have much impact overall.

Tony DeAngelo is a bit of a different story, however.

He’s produced 7 points in 11 games which is good for the third most on the team among defensemen.

The players ahead of him? Alex Goligoski and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Goligoski has 9 points in 23 games, while OEL has 12 points in 23 games.

Basically, DeAngelo was on pace to the be the team’s top scoring defender if he had been with the club for the entire season. Now? Who knows.

There is no doubt that Tony D has his faults.

He’s mighty suspect defensively and pairing him with Goligoski was a heck of an adventure each night. That said, the other name mentioned in that sentence, Alex Goligoski, has been suspect defensively his entire career and this season has been no exception.

He’s a shell of his former self. Goose hasn’t lived up to his potential since signing in Arizona.

It appears that he won’t be scratched because he’s a veteran, however.

In the meantime, players like DeAngelo and Jakob Chychrun continue to ride the pine for expected mistakes while veterans like Michael Stone and Goligoski make the same gaffes and receive no punishment.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but not much else has this season.