Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the Arizona Coyotes will announce on Thursday that John Chayka has been named the team’s new general manager:
John Chayka will be named GM of ARI tomorrow. Promoted from asst GM, Chayka turns 27 on June 9. Head coach Dave Tippett expanded role.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 4, 2016
Chayka has been promoted to replace Don Maloney, who was fired on April 11 after eight years of service as general manager of the Coyotes.
Arizona hired Chayka last May as an assistant general manager, leaving his previous position as co-founder and director of hockey operations at the analytics website Stathletes.com. He was one of several younger, analytics-oriented executives hired by NHL teams in the past two years, a trend that also saw the Toronto Maple Leafs’ hiring of assistant general manager Kyle Dubas.
At 26-years-old, Chayka is the youngest general manager in NHL history, four years younger than Gord Stellick, who previously held that title as the general manager of Toronto at 30-years-old. In fact, he’s 13 years younger than Coyotes captain Shane Doan.
After failing to make the playoffs this season and finishing fourth in the Pacific Division, Arizona’s seventh overall selection in the upcoming NHL Draft in June will likely be Chayka’s first major test in charge of the team.
Bob McKenzie also reports head coach Dave Tippett’s role will be expanded in Arizona, but it is unclear what that could mean. Check back here for updates on the situation with the Arizona Coyotes as they unfold.
Main Photo:
Main Photo Caption: SCOTTSDALE, AZ – JULY 08: Assistant General Manager/Analytics John Chayka (C) of the Arizona Coyotes watches the prospect development camp at the Ice Den on July 8, 2015 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
