Former first round pick demoted to the American Hockey League.

Despite the fact that he played 72 games in the National Hockey League last season, it seems the Coyotes don't feel former first round pick Lawson Crouse is entirely NHL ready.

According to a breaking news report from Cap Friendly, they have consulted the American Hockey League transactions report and it has revealed that Crouse has been demoted back down to the AHL.

The 20-year-old Arizona Coyotes forward has struggled to start the season and has produced no points in his 7 games played. Making matters worse for Crouse is the fact that while not producing he has been on the ice for opposition goals and as a result has a plus minus of -3 on the season.

Crouse is a former first round draft pick, having been selected 11th by the Florida Panthers in 2015, but he has never lived up to his draft pedigree and in fact was traded to the Coyotes alongside Dave Bolland for a second and third round draft pick.

It's a real bad sign for Crouse's development and one has to wonder if the Coyotes may not be considering a potential move involving Crouse in the near future. 

[pub]