Radim Vrbata is back with the team he never wanted to leave.
After signing a one-year deal with the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday, Vrbata is thrilled to return to where he previously spent six seasons, with his most recent stint coming in 2014.
"We never really wanted to leave," Vrbata told Arizona Sports. "We love living in Arizona. Every time I was a free agent, I always wanted to get it done with Phoenix and for some reason it didn't happen so we had to go with different options."
Vrbata fills a major need for the Coyotes, who have a number of up-and-coming wingers but are thin on the right side. The Czech winger will likely play a top-nine role alongside captain Shane Doan and third-year pro Anthony Duclair.
His production slipped to just 27 points last season, but the Coyotes are confident he can rediscover his form in Arizona, where he's had his best seasons.
Vrbata's most impressive season with the Coyotes came in 2011-12, when he finished with 35 goals and 62 points while lining up with countryman Martin Hanzal.
Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett envisions a similar role for Vrbata, who could reunite with Hanzal or pair with rookie center Dylan Strome.
"It's logical to think he might go back beside Hanzal because he had some success there," Tippett said, "But Duclair had success there, too, and one of the kids may come up and have success, too.
"(Vrbata) is a smart player that adapts to situations. Positionally, he is a good fit for us as a right-handed skill shot, but I think he's got to play on a line that has the ability to control the puck so that they get shots."
Vrbata will certainly have some extra motivation, as his one-year pact comes with performance bonuses totaling $3.25 million. After being paid a $1-million base, the veteran winger can earn $500,000 for playing 30 games, another half-million for totaling either 20 goals or 40 points, and another $1.25 million in playoff-related bonuses.
The 35-year-old Vrbata originally came to the Coyotes following a 2007 trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, playing one season with the club before signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Just over a year later, he was dealt back to the Coyotes, with whom he spent the next five seasons.
Over six seasons with the team, he's scored 137 goals - 11th-most in franchise history.
