Arizona Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney was fired from his long-held post earlier today, according to multiple sources. Maloney had been the Coyotes GM since May 2007.
Maloney guided the Phoenix/Arizona squad through a tumultuous time which included a period where the NHL owned the team and seemingly annual disputes regarding the Coyotes arena situation. He brought onboard Dave Tippet as coach in September 2009 after previous coach Wayne Gretzky resigned. Maloney also served as the General Manager of the New York Islander and Assistant General Manager with the New York Islanders, served the last nine years crafting an NHL level roster on a budget that resorted to crafty moves to even make the salary cap floor.
While he is leaving before the rebuild of the squad can be considered complete, Maloney has drafted well in the last few years. The Coyotes boast a prospect pool filled to the brim with blue-chip talents. Dylan Strome, Christian Dvorak and Brendan Perlini, Ryan MacInnis, and Nick Merkley all developing nicely and in-line for serious looks at the professional ranks soon. Additionally, the Coyotes also will pick no lower than 11th in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so another top prospect is likely to be joining that list come summer.
Goes to show rebuilds are GM kiss of death. The guy that starts the rebuild rarely finishes it next guy always takes more credit.
— Ian Reid 😡🇨🇦🤖 (@IanBlogsHockey) April 11, 2016
Maloney has also had his hand in a number of odd trades, as well as the Mike Smith contract. Before the 2015-16 season, Maloney traded winger Sam Gagner and a conditional draft pick to Philadelphia for defenseman Nicklas Grossmann and Chris Pronger. Pronger was only owed $575,000 in actual salary but carried a cap hit of $4.9 million, helping the Coyotes to the salary cap floor. Maloney also traded John Scott to the Montreal Canadiens, under dubious circumstances to say the least, after fans voted Scott to the Pacific All-Star team.
Craig Custance reported that the Coyotes quickly reached out to the Dallas Stars, seeking permission to speak with longtime Assistant GM Les Jackson, who has been with the Stars organization since the club was the Minnesota North Stars.
Not sure it's necessarily to be the GM but the Coyotes have asked the Stars for permission to talk to Les Jackson, a great judge of talent.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) April 11, 2016
Arizona Coyotes also retained head coach Dave Tippett.
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