Hmm, I love Doan as much as anyone-who-hasn't-named-his-son-after-Doan, but does he have any front-office experience or scouting/talent evaluation experience at all? Chayka was at least steeped in stats/scouting for ages before we brought him in as a wunderkind...
Most GMs are former players that didn't have that experience until they worked their way up into that role... plus Doaner helped negotiate an end to the lockout in 2013 and has experience working for the NHL Hockey Operations department. Assistant GM or not, this franchise definitely could benefit from Doan's involvement one way or another. Hopefully Meruelo has at least reached out and had a conversation with him since he took over the team.
Doan having a public facing high-level role with the team would certainly go a long way with the fan base. He’s done a lot for the community and the team throughout his career. If the Yotes do need to bring someone in to handle the business side and they work well together it could be a big win.
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.
Don't forget other fan favorites such as Brett Hull retiring after 5 games in a Yotes uniform, the Kyle Turris contract holdout, or Blake Wheeler screwing us over via some legal loophole!
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.
That was my thought as well. Odd time to burn bridges. I'd think that John has just made himself persona-non-grata to a lot of business folks. He just proved that any contract he signs will only be upheld "until something better comes along, or I just don't feel like it anymore".
you guys are just eating up what the front-office/ownership is tossing out. You haven't even heard from Chayka here. It's possible they are pissed because he found a way out of their slavery and they are trying to ruin his career and reputation now.
Let's hear more facts before we level hate. Or, I guess just go with the 4-min hate.
Either way this situation makes me far less optimistic about the Coyotes' franchise.
Well, no matter the he-said/she-said aspect of this, the fact remains, Chayka asked to explore an opportunity, and wasn't willing to even see the GM position through to the end of the season (at most 2 months). That sounds like quitter to me. And omg, quit with the slavery hyperbole. You only make yourself look ridiculous.
doesn't it make you wonder why he wasn't even willing? Especially considering this is his team.
I can do that thing too:
the fact remains, this ownership came in and through their heavy-handedness caused even the very architect of this team to abandon ship with at most 2 months left. Then fouled his name as they tossed him over-board! Sounds like terrible leadership to me. omg
yeah, real bummer is we won't know maybe ever, but probably not for a long time. Then years from now we'll find out about it and it might be the case that we supported the wrong side and that side was atrocious.
then you could get why Chayka might be upset too if there were something that was interpreted differently.
generally contracts have exit clauses, too.
my guess is ownership had different assumptions than Chayka did.
Keep in mind Chayka has been in the league for many years. He may have assumed some practice that is commonplace but not in the contract. Current Ownership is new to the league, this is their first year. Their assumptions were probably drastically different.
When you look at it from this perspective, especially in light of the nasty sentiment coming from the ownership side...
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?
Hmm, I love Doan as much as anyone-who-hasn't-named-his-son-after-Doan, but does he have any front-office experience or scouting/talent evaluation experience at all? Chayka was at least steeped in stats/scouting for ages before we brought him in as a wunderkind...
Most GMs are former players that didn't have that experience until they worked their way up into that role... plus Doaner helped negotiate an end to the lockout in 2013 and has experience working for the NHL Hockey Operations department. Assistant GM or not, this franchise definitely could benefit from Doan's involvement one way or another. Hopefully Meruelo has at least reached out and had a conversation with him since he took over the team.
Doan having a public facing high-level role with the team would certainly go a long way with the fan base. He’s done a lot for the community and the team throughout his career. If the Yotes do need to bring someone in to handle the business side and they work well together it could be a big win.
Ya have seen who the GMs are on many other teams right? Mostly former players....just like the guy they have in the interim role
This was my initial thought. Bring Doan in to fill Sullivan's old position.
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.
Don't forget other fan favorites such as Brett Hull retiring after 5 games in a Yotes uniform, the Kyle Turris contract holdout, or Blake Wheeler screwing us over via some legal loophole!
Gretzky just no called-no showed? Like that's pure halal
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?
Great question, I hope the short answer is “no”.
If we have Ellman 2.0, I hope Houston enjoys their hockey team.
Please God no.
Did ownership demand Chayka learn Spanish so that he could participate in Spanish language broadcasts and podcasts?
For millions of dollars, I'd learn Mandarin, much less Spanish...
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.
That was my thought as well. Odd time to burn bridges. I'd think that John has just made himself persona-non-grata to a lot of business folks. He just proved that any contract he signs will only be upheld "until something better comes along, or I just don't feel like it anymore".
you guys are just eating up what the front-office/ownership is tossing out. You haven't even heard from Chayka here. It's possible they are pissed because he found a way out of their slavery and they are trying to ruin his career and reputation now.
Let's hear more facts before we level hate. Or, I guess just go with the 4-min hate.
Either way this situation makes me far less optimistic about the Coyotes' franchise.
This just in: Signing a several hundred thousand dollar, multi year contract willingly is slavery. Oh my lord...
ever been in the military?
This just in: Voluntarily enlisting into the US Armed Forces and receiving money, benefits, paid college, and housing is slavery.
how many years of your life will $200,000 get me?
you a big fan of voluntary servitude?
GM of an NHL franchise is hardly equivalent to the military...
Well, no matter the he-said/she-said aspect of this, the fact remains, Chayka asked to explore an opportunity, and wasn't willing to even see the GM position through to the end of the season (at most 2 months). That sounds like quitter to me. And omg, quit with the slavery hyperbole. You only make yourself look ridiculous.
by the way doug, I can respect wanting to side with the team since you're a fan and want to keep rooting for the Coyotes in the future.
doesn't it make you wonder why he wasn't even willing? Especially considering this is his team.
I can do that thing too:
the fact remains, this ownership came in and through their heavy-handedness caused even the very architect of this team to abandon ship with at most 2 months left. Then fouled his name as they tossed him over-board! Sounds like terrible leadership to me. omg
Not a fact, that is an assumption at this point. Not saying that it couldn’t be true, but it’s not a “fact”.
I’m not going to believe anything until more there is more clarity about the situation, but I wonder what the “slavery” is that you are referring to.
when news is so completely one-sided like this is right now, I tend to sense the truth/fact is the exact opposite as being 'reported'
I do agree with you that we probably don’t know anywhere near what actually happened yet
yeah, real bummer is we won't know maybe ever, but probably not for a long time. Then years from now we'll find out about it and it might be the case that we supported the wrong side and that side was atrocious.
allusion to contract. perhaps one party thought they owned the other. then the other found an exit clause.
Oh. I would get why the team would be upset, contracts are generally binding unless both sides don’t want to conduct business anymore.
then you could get why Chayka might be upset too if there were something that was interpreted differently.
generally contracts have exit clauses, too.
my guess is ownership had different assumptions than Chayka did.
Keep in mind Chayka has been in the league for many years. He may have assumed some practice that is commonplace but not in the contract. Current Ownership is new to the league, this is their first year. Their assumptions were probably drastically different.
When you look at it from this perspective, especially in light of the nasty sentiment coming from the ownership side...
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.
THAT IS NOT WHAT I HAD IN MIND, COYOTES-PRESS-RELEASE-GUY
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.