Coyotes assign three to Portland

The Phoenix Coyotes announced Friday they have assigned forwards Nick Johnson and Rob Klinkhammer and defenseman Michael Stone to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Johnson has played five games with the Idaho Steelheads this season, collecting one assist. Last season, Johnson set career highs in games played (77), goals (8), assists (18), points (26) and penalty minutes (45) with the Minnesota Wild.

The 27-year-old native of Calgary, Alberta was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round (No. 67) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Klinkhammer has played 38 games with Portland this season, recording nine goals, 31 points and 26 penalty minutes. The 26-year-old native of Lethbridge, Alberta played 15 games with the Ottawa Senators in 2011-12, collecting two assists.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Stone has recorded six goals, 22 points and 16 PIMs in 31 games with the Portland Pirates this season.

The 22-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba played in 13 games for the Coyotes last season posting one goal and three points in 13 games. He appeared in two games of the Western Conference Finals during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The defenseman also recorded nine goals, 22 points and 24 PIMs in 51 games with Portland in 2011-12. Stone was originally drafted by the Coyotes in the third round (No. 69) in the 2008 NHL Draft.