Welcome to the AZ Coyotes Insider newsletter. My plan is to publish stories four to six times per week. By subscribing, you’ll be supporting independent, accountable journalism. Subscribe now so you won’t miss a story. President of hockey operations and general manager John Chayka informed the Coyotes on Friday that he was terminating his contract, per an NHL source. That request has been granted. Chayka is no longer with the Coyotes and assistant GM Steve Sullivan has been named the interim GM.
Just to add to earlier comment. I'm not sure I agree that this is "bad mojo." We don't have the whole story yet, no. But, the GM being absent isn't going to affect the team's play. Number one: win or lose, they're in the playoffs. Everything that Craig has been reporting (since I'm s new subscriber) is that the "mojo" seems pretty good. Even OEL is stepping up. They're going in pretty much as an underdog, people aren't expecting much, so that can translate to them playing loose and extremely well. Especially (the X-factor) if the goalies step up. BTW I think Steve Sullivan may be a better hockey mind than John Chayka. I didn't say business or analytics mind, but a solid hockey mind. Either way ladies and gentlemen, there is going to be hockey at the end of this week!!!!
I want to say this is the oddest departure yet but then I remember this is the same team that had Tocchet get banned for gambling, Gretzky no-call no-show to training camp, Doan get cut over dinner, and Khabibulin prefer to ply his trade for the Long Beach Ice Dogs. Just another day at the office.
I'm going to channel my despair into questions for you, Craig. I don't expect anyone has the answers to these right now, but they may be things to inquire about going forward.
First, let me start with something obvious.
Of course outside organizations wanted Chayka. He's young, charismatic, stays off social media, surrounds himself with good people, and puts the organization first. But why did this entirely predictable scenario end this way?
1. I'm seeing an important detail has changed in this story from when it first broke. Before, the narrative was that an opportunity presented itself to Chayka and management gave him permission to explore the outside opportunity. Now, the story is that management denied him that opportunity. IMO, this denial seems eminently reasonable given that he just signed a contract extension in November, the season was still ongoing, and the jury was still out on whether his overall vision was going to bear fruit. Why did this detail of the story change? Which version is true? Did the Coyotes organization deny him permission to explore a job offer? Was it with another NHL or sports team?
2. I'm not going to reach for the "millennials" stereotype that they're always looking for their next job, but what is Chakya's reason for pulling the eject handle at this point in the process? Remember the Athletic's poll of NHL front office confidence back in August of 2019? https://theathletic.com/1123303/2019/08/08/the-2019-nhl-front-office-confidence-rankings-fans-weigh-in-on-how-each-team-is-doing/?redirected=1 The Coyotes were 12th overall with a remarkable 4.7 in front office confidence. That's a strong belief in Chayka (and to a lesser extent, Tocchet) and the management's goals in putting a competitive product on the ice in a non-traditional market. That's a belief that Meruelo kept when he bought the team. Meruelo could have cleaned house right away, but didn't. Commenters on that poll said that this was the year that the Chayka strategy was going to pay off or reveal it to be a failure - something I've heard over and over on The Nattie Hattie podcast. Even with the team going all in on Hall and Kessel, I feel like making the playoffs or winning a series (much like Columbus last year) would be a validation for the fanbase that the strategy was correct and was going to pay off long term, even if the cost was a short term regression in the off season. A culture of winning has to start somewhere.
By quitting now, before the season ends, I think Chayka is telling us that it was going to fail and he's just getting out now while the getting is good. It's not just embarrassing for the organization, it's embarrassing for the fanbase that believed in him. If it failed, and Chayka stood up at a lectern in Edmonton after the team was eliminated by Nashville and said "Welp, we failed," that's something. Sneaking out before the plane takes off for Alberta is pretty low - no matter what the other opportunity may be. There is something to be said for sticking it out to a logical conclusion or at least a sensible exit point.
If Chayka really believed in his vision for the team, why didn't he stay to see it out through the end of the season? And were we all fools for believing in it in the first place?
3. I'm sure there's a lot of he said-she said underlying this breakup, but I really hope this isn't a sign from the new management that it values loyalty above all (including skill and talent). That's a recipe for disaster, in my opinion. I was just starting to feel like we'd put the ghost of Steve Ellman behind us, and now I'm fearful that as a fanbase we've woken up in bed with another egotistic, delusional, rich-only-on paper developer calling the shots. Do you get a sense that the organization did something out of the ordinary here in parting ways with Chayka (and if applicable, Ahron Cohen), that indicates the start of another ownership downward spiral?
So, wonder boy is gone?!? Where is all the love and commitment to AZ and the Coyotes. Yes, there is surely a back story here, but listen, the TIIMING says volumes. As an aside, I think Steve Sullivan's commitment to the team and players is rock solid
Wow IF this is true, this seems like it will really has potential to limit future hockey opportunities for Chayka. If your word is no good, who will want to make a deal with you? Hockey is a relationship dependent business and burning bridges is usually not a recipe for future success.
Also, if we could please hear from Mr Meruelo.... I'm not asking him to air the dirty laundry because I don't want the drama - but there needs to be a settling voice from Dad and now is the time.
Craig, can you comment on your initial thoughts of Sullivan in terms of how closely he will mirror Chayka’s plan, preference for analytics, and outside the box thinking, and what could be different about him both positively (maybe a better relationship with other GM’s?) and negatively (should I be worried he’ll be another Maloney, loving the Kyle Chipchura’s and other grinder type players because they’re “good guys, skate hard, love the game”?).
If you answered on the bonus natty Hatty, I haven’t listened yet, so you can direct me there.
So which came first, the chicken or the egg? 1) Did he pursue the opportunity and then ownership made continuing "an impossibility" or 2) did continuing become "an impossibility" which forced him to pursue the opportunity?
If it's the former, then he kind of deserves some scorched Earth...particularly if they really did discourage him from doing so until after the season. If it's the latter, well, that's a whole different can of worms.
Maybe Doaner can come in and work with Sully starting next season?
Just to add to earlier comment. I'm not sure I agree that this is "bad mojo." We don't have the whole story yet, no. But, the GM being absent isn't going to affect the team's play. Number one: win or lose, they're in the playoffs. Everything that Craig has been reporting (since I'm s new subscriber) is that the "mojo" seems pretty good. Even OEL is stepping up. They're going in pretty much as an underdog, people aren't expecting much, so that can translate to them playing loose and extremely well. Especially (the X-factor) if the goalies step up. BTW I think Steve Sullivan may be a better hockey mind than John Chayka. I didn't say business or analytics mind, but a solid hockey mind. Either way ladies and gentlemen, there is going to be hockey at the end of this week!!!!
I want to say this is the oddest departure yet but then I remember this is the same team that had Tocchet get banned for gambling, Gretzky no-call no-show to training camp, Doan get cut over dinner, and Khabibulin prefer to ply his trade for the Long Beach Ice Dogs. Just another day at the office.
I'm going to channel my despair into questions for you, Craig. I don't expect anyone has the answers to these right now, but they may be things to inquire about going forward.
First, let me start with something obvious.
Of course outside organizations wanted Chayka. He's young, charismatic, stays off social media, surrounds himself with good people, and puts the organization first. But why did this entirely predictable scenario end this way?
1. I'm seeing an important detail has changed in this story from when it first broke. Before, the narrative was that an opportunity presented itself to Chayka and management gave him permission to explore the outside opportunity. Now, the story is that management denied him that opportunity. IMO, this denial seems eminently reasonable given that he just signed a contract extension in November, the season was still ongoing, and the jury was still out on whether his overall vision was going to bear fruit. Why did this detail of the story change? Which version is true? Did the Coyotes organization deny him permission to explore a job offer? Was it with another NHL or sports team?
2. I'm not going to reach for the "millennials" stereotype that they're always looking for their next job, but what is Chakya's reason for pulling the eject handle at this point in the process? Remember the Athletic's poll of NHL front office confidence back in August of 2019? https://theathletic.com/1123303/2019/08/08/the-2019-nhl-front-office-confidence-rankings-fans-weigh-in-on-how-each-team-is-doing/?redirected=1 The Coyotes were 12th overall with a remarkable 4.7 in front office confidence. That's a strong belief in Chayka (and to a lesser extent, Tocchet) and the management's goals in putting a competitive product on the ice in a non-traditional market. That's a belief that Meruelo kept when he bought the team. Meruelo could have cleaned house right away, but didn't. Commenters on that poll said that this was the year that the Chayka strategy was going to pay off or reveal it to be a failure - something I've heard over and over on The Nattie Hattie podcast. Even with the team going all in on Hall and Kessel, I feel like making the playoffs or winning a series (much like Columbus last year) would be a validation for the fanbase that the strategy was correct and was going to pay off long term, even if the cost was a short term regression in the off season. A culture of winning has to start somewhere.
By quitting now, before the season ends, I think Chayka is telling us that it was going to fail and he's just getting out now while the getting is good. It's not just embarrassing for the organization, it's embarrassing for the fanbase that believed in him. If it failed, and Chayka stood up at a lectern in Edmonton after the team was eliminated by Nashville and said "Welp, we failed," that's something. Sneaking out before the plane takes off for Alberta is pretty low - no matter what the other opportunity may be. There is something to be said for sticking it out to a logical conclusion or at least a sensible exit point.
If Chayka really believed in his vision for the team, why didn't he stay to see it out through the end of the season? And were we all fools for believing in it in the first place?
3. I'm sure there's a lot of he said-she said underlying this breakup, but I really hope this isn't a sign from the new management that it values loyalty above all (including skill and talent). That's a recipe for disaster, in my opinion. I was just starting to feel like we'd put the ghost of Steve Ellman behind us, and now I'm fearful that as a fanbase we've woken up in bed with another egotistic, delusional, rich-only-on paper developer calling the shots. Do you get a sense that the organization did something out of the ordinary here in parting ways with Chayka (and if applicable, Ahron Cohen), that indicates the start of another ownership downward spiral?
Woof.
It's summer and there is Coyotes front office drama again... all is right with the world.
(Can I also take a moment to reflect that Down Goes Brown appears to follow you, Craig?)
dat press release tho... yikes.
So, wonder boy is gone?!? Where is all the love and commitment to AZ and the Coyotes. Yes, there is surely a back story here, but listen, the TIIMING says volumes. As an aside, I think Steve Sullivan's commitment to the team and players is rock solid
Wow IF this is true, this seems like it will really has potential to limit future hockey opportunities for Chayka. If your word is no good, who will want to make a deal with you? Hockey is a relationship dependent business and burning bridges is usually not a recipe for future success.
Whoa.
Also, if we could please hear from Mr Meruelo.... I'm not asking him to air the dirty laundry because I don't want the drama - but there needs to be a settling voice from Dad and now is the time.
Craig are you secretly on vacation, because this seems like something that only happens when you go on vacation...
Craig, can you comment on your initial thoughts of Sullivan in terms of how closely he will mirror Chayka’s plan, preference for analytics, and outside the box thinking, and what could be different about him both positively (maybe a better relationship with other GM’s?) and negatively (should I be worried he’ll be another Maloney, loving the Kyle Chipchura’s and other grinder type players because they’re “good guys, skate hard, love the game”?).
If you answered on the bonus natty Hatty, I haven’t listened yet, so you can direct me there.
Insane. I don’t think this could have been handled any worse or at a worse time. Sullivan is smart, hope he fits the role.
So which came first, the chicken or the egg? 1) Did he pursue the opportunity and then ownership made continuing "an impossibility" or 2) did continuing become "an impossibility" which forced him to pursue the opportunity?
If it's the former, then he kind of deserves some scorched Earth...particularly if they really did discourage him from doing so until after the season. If it's the latter, well, that's a whole different can of worms.
I thought I liked Chayka. I guess not any more. I wonder what this other opportunity was.