It sounds like the Arizona Coyotes’ youth movement won’t merely be seen on the ice.
ESPN’s Craig Custance reports that the Coyotes will promote 26-year-old assistant GM John Chayka to GM. The team teased a major press conference for Thursday, when that news is likely to be made official.
The presser could be useful for more than the usual quotes and mission statements, as the Coyotes seem like they may parallel the Toronto Maple Leafs in combining an experienced executive, a young up-and-coming thinker and a more empowered head coach.
Dave Tippett is expected to have more of a say in personnel decisions while the Coyotes hope to bring in a Lou Lamoriello-type to assist Chayka, according to Custance.
Details of a restructured front office will also be released, expect an expanded role in roster decisions for Dave Tippett.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) May 4, 2016
(Custance’s ESPN Insider article [subscription required] goes in much greater depth, including a comparison to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors rather than the Maple Leafs.)
It’s possible that Dallas Stars assistant GM Les Jackson might come in to help Chayka, although an earlier report suggests that Jackson might stay in Dallas.
Multiple reporters including Puck Daddy’s Josh Cooper back up Custance’s report.
Source confirms @CraigCustance report. John Chayka will be announced the next GM of the Coyotes
— Josh Cooper (@JoshuaCooper) May 4, 2016
Considering Chayka’s age - he’s primed to become the youngest GM in NHL history - it’s no surprise that people are churning out jokes.
At 26YO, I was covering the @CLBClippers, munching too much Cracker Jack, and hearing Fogarty's "Centerfield" every night in the press box.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 4, 2016
A 26-year-old general manager. Well, OK. Will one of his assistant GMs be a teenager?
— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) May 4, 2016
(This post’s author comes with six more years of [life] experience and a resume stacked with impressive video game and fantasy hockey team-building, by the way.)