Chayka's suspension is unrelated to sanctions the league levied on the Coyotes in AugustGETTY IMAGES
The NHL has suspended former Coyotes GM John Chayka through Dec. 31 as part of its "ruling on a dispute over his departure from the team last summer," according to Elliotte Friedman of SPORTSNET.ca. The league sent a memo to its teams about the decision that said, "Chayka engaged in conduct detrimental to the league, breached his obligation to the club, and was properly terminated by the club." The Coyotes on July 26 issued a statement saying Chayka "quit" on the team and that the club was "disappointed" by his decision (SPORTSNET.ca, 1/25). ESPN.com's Emily Kaplan cited sources as saying that Chayka's suspension -- which "prevents him from working for any NHL club, in any capacity -- is unrelated to sanctions the league levied on the Coyotes in August." The team was stripped of its '20 second-round pick and '21 first-round pick for "violating the scouting combine policy of conducting physical testing of draft-eligible players, which occurred under Chayka's watch" (ESPN.com, 1/25).
DOOR OPEN FOR RETURN? THE ATHLETIC's Scott Burnside noted there were NHL teams "interested in Chayka's services at the time of his abrupt departure" from the Coyotes. He is "considered a bright, forward-thinking executive who's a strong proponent of advanced statistics and the use of analytics in building a team." That his suspension will last less than a year "opens the door for a relatively quick return to an NHL posting." Burnside: "That said, the fact Chayka left on the eve of the playoffs, regardless of his motivation, will serve as a significant red flag to any NHL team looking to bring him aboard" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/25).
