AP Source: Coyotes To Promote 26-Year-Old Chayka To GM
JOHN MARSHALL, AP Sports Writer
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Coyotes will promote 26-year-old John Chayka to general manager, making him the youngest GM in NHL history, a person familiar with the situation said Wednesday.
The Coyotes have scheduled a news conference Thursday to introduce Chayka, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the official announcement has not been made.
Chayka will replace Don Maloney, who was fired on April 11 after nine seasons as GM. Chayka will be younger than 13 players on Arizona's current roster and will surpass Gord Stellick, who was 30 when he was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1988, as the youngest GM in league history.
He also will bring an analytical bent to the Coyotes' front office.
Chayka co-founded hockey analytics firm Stathletes in 2009 and served as its director of hockey operations before being hired as Arizona's assistant GM under Maloney prior to last season.
Hockey teams have in recent years turned more toward analytics similar to the "Moneyball" approach in baseball, but Chayka will be the first from that background to become an NHL general manager.
Chayka will have some young talent to work with. Rookies Max Domi and Anthony Duclair had strong rookie seasons in 2015-16 and the Coyotes have quality players in their minor-league system who should be able to contribute soon.
Coach Dave Tippett, who was retained after Maloney's firing, is expected to have a larger role in Arizona's hockey operations under Chayka.
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