"Their future might still be undecided beyond next season, but when it comes to dependability, the Coyotes always know they can count on defenseman Keith Yandle. He's managed to play in every single game for the franchise the past two years -- and do so at a high level.

On Tuesday, the Coyotes rewarded the Boston-born Yandle with a contract extension, committing $26.25 million to him over the next five seasons.

Though the team has made a series of additions since the NHL's free-agency signing period began, securing Yandle, 24, to a new long-term deal might be its biggest move to date.

"Obviously, I'm very excited to get it done, and now I can spend the rest of the summer focusing on what we need to accomplish next year," Yandle said on a conference call.

Yandle denied online reports that the uncertain ownership issues with the Coyotes made him not want to consider a long-term deal with Phoenix.

"Yeah, my brother had forwarded me an email -- i guess it was a blog or something -- and he asked me if it was true," Yandle said. "I said, 'No, neither me or my agent ever said anything like that. Just people making conversation, i guess.' "

A fixture on the blue line, Yandle has spent his entire NHL career with the Coyotes and losing him to possible free agency could have hurt the league's effort in finding a potential new owner willing to keep the franchise in Phoenix."