Coyotes accuse GM of quitting on team,
Usually, statements issued to the media when a sports franchise and an executive part ways are stripped of all emotion and most sincerity.
The dearly departed are thanked for their service and wished well in future endeavors, no matter the level of animosity that existed prior.
That did not happen last weekend when the Coyotes announced that general manager John Chayka was now the ex.
“John Chayka has quit as the General Manager and President of Hockey Operations of the Arizona Coyotes,” the statement reads. “The Club is disappointed in his actions and his timing as the Coyotes prepare to enter the NHL’s hub city of Edmonton, where the team will begin post-season play for the first time since 2012. Chayka has chosen to quit on a strong and competitive team, a dedicated staff, and the Arizona Coyotes fans, the greatest fans in the NHL.”
“Quit” is a word rarely seen in such statements, much less twice in one paragraph. No name was attached to the statement, but comments like that aren’t made unless ownership signs off.
The Coyotes also announced that Steve Sullivan will be promoted to interim general manager. Sullivan had worked under Chayka as an assistant GM and worked as general manager for the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in Tucson.
Chayka took a more traditional route with his statement, issued just a few minutes before his former employer’s, but he did say that he wanted to be with the team in Edmonton for the postseason.
“Sadly, the situation created by ownership made that an impossibility. That’s all I intend to say on this matter for now.”
The “for now” foreshadows a continued battle between Chayka and owner Alex Meruelo. Meruelo might be reluctant to allow Chayka to work elsewhere in the NHL, provided there is a non-compete clause in Chayka’s contract, which is usually the case.
And Chayka might argue that he terminated his contract only after the Coyotes violated parts of the agreement. Like allegedly excluding him from dinner and negotiations with a player.
Meruelo’s purchase of the team a year ago held so much promise. He was worth a couple of billion dollars, per reports, and promised he was willing to part with some of it in order to win.
He backed that up by signing Chayka to a long-term contract last November and by allowing Chayka to trade for right winger Phil Kessel last summer and then left winger Taylor Hall last December. Those moves haven’t translated to success on the ice, but at least it looked like the Coyotes were trying.
Behind the scenes, however, the relationship between Chayka and Meruelo began to fracture.
It’s hard to envision the Coyotes allowing Chayka to leave and work elsewhere in professional hockey without receiving compensation in return. If he can do that, what good is a contract?
And it’s hard to envision Chayka accepting that if he believes the Coyotes circumvented powers guaranteed to him in his contract. If they can do that, what good is a contract?
As with most divorces, they might be the only clear winners.