Armstrong (r) said he was impressed with Meruelo's track record of business successCOYOTES
New Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong during his introductory press conference "pledged to get to work right away on building a championship contender," according to Jose Romero of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Armstrong was "impressed with owner Alex Meruelo's track record of business success and personality," and "wanted the chance to make the Coyotes into a perennial playoff team." Armstrong said, "This is a complex, complicated job. But it’s also simple. You hire the right people, they find the right players, you stack good player on good player, and the next thing you know you’re winning." Meanwhile, Romero notes the Coyotes yesterday confirmed that the team had "parted ways" with Assistant GM and Dir of Scouting Lindsay Hofford (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/23).
DEEPER LOOK: In Phoenix, Kent Somers writes the Coyotes GM job has "always been difficult, but never more than now," as Armstrong will be tasked with "educating those at the top of the organization, most notably Meruelo." Armstrong "acknowledged the challenges of the job and admitted that he received texts from 'the hockey community' who had the same warning." Sources in the organization said that Meruelo, his son Alex Jr., an exec with the team, and Coyotes President & CEO Xavier Gutierrez "micromanage departments outside their expertise." Glendale officials "confirmed the Coyotes are late paying ASM Global," the company that manages Gila River Arena. Somers notes the team also was "late paying players’ bonuses and the per diem they were due in the bubble." Gutierrez said, "We will and we must course-correct some of the business arrangements that have historically undermined the financial prosperity of this franchise" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/23).
