Arizona Coyotes and GM John Chayka trending towards divorce
It looks like the Arizona Coyotes and John Chayka are heading towards a mutual parting of ways.
The Arizona Coyotes are heading to the postseason for the first time since the 2011-12 season. If they beat the Nashville Predators in the play-in round, they’re officially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, most of the focus for the organization appears to be off the ice, as it appears the Coyotes and general manager John Chayka are going to part ways.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the two sides haven’t been amicable as of late. Chayka might not even be traveling to Edmonton, their hub city, with the team. Coyotes insider Craig Morgan confirmed this. Friedman reports the general manager’s office has already been cleaned out.
This comes after a recent rumor about the Coyotes and pending UFA forward Taylor Hall. The Coyotes would like to keep him, so they recently met with Hall and his agent over dinner. However, Chayka reportedly wasn’t present at the dinner.
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The Coyotes recently got a new President and CEO in Xavier Gutierrez, as well as a new owner in Alex Meruelo, who bought the team last June. Meruelo’s son, Alex Meruelo Jr., is listed as the Coyotes’ “Strategic Advisor, Business and Hockey Operations”. Meruelo Jr. was reportedly present at the dinner with Hall and his agent.
This is a very odd situation. Maybe Meruelo doesn’t trust Chayka. But all of this sounds like Meruelo is a very hands-on owner. That can be a good thing. Of course, it can be a very bad thing as well. Just look at what’s happened with the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones. Or Washington’s football team and Dan Snyder.
Chayka took over as the Coyotes’ general manager in May of 2016. Arizona hasn’t made the playoffs under him before this season, but to be fair to him, he wasn’t dealing with a full deck of cards.
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It’s worth noting Chayka and the scouting staff for the Coyotes illegally met with some prospects. However, they have yet to be punished for it and according to Friedman, the league denied he’s being punished for it. It will be interesting to see how this situation ends. But right now, expect the Coyotes and Chayka to part ways in what could be a very messy divorce of sorts.