Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have activated defenseman Kurt Sauer from Injured Reserve. Sauer, 28, has recorded four assists and 32 penalty minutes (PIM) in 43 games this season, his first as a Coyote. Sauer, who ranks 5th on the Coyotes in average ice time per game (20:47), has missed the last 14 games since being placed on Injured Reserve. Sauer signed with the Coyotes as a free agent on July 1, 2008. Last season, Sauer recorded 1-5-6 and 41 PIM in 54 regular season games with the Colorado Avalanche, tying his career-high for points, and finished 2nd on the Avalanche with a +17 rating. Sauer also appeared in all 10 of Colorado?s playoff games last year, recording a goal and eight PIM. He ranked fifth on the Avalanche in ice time per game (19:22) during the postseason. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Sauer began his career with Anaheim, recording 1-2-3 and 74 PIM in 80 games during his rookie season in 2002-03. He also appeared in all 21 games for the Ducks during their run to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, recording 1-1-2 and six PIM. In 331 career NHL games with Anaheim, Colorado and the Coyotes, the St. Cloud, Minn. native has collected 4-26-30 and 246 PIM. He has also registered 2-1-3 and 18 PIM in 43 career postseason games. Sauer was originally drafted by Colorado in the third round (88th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft but signed as a free agent with Anaheim on June 6, 2002. He was traded back to Colorado with a fourth round pick in the 2005 Entry draft in exchange for Martin Skoula on Feb. 21, 2004.