x
Breaking News
More () »

Coyotes to name 26-year-old John Chayka as general manager

The Arizona Coyotes will make John Chayka, 26, the NHL’s youngest general manager Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because the decision hasn’t been announced.

The Arizona Coyotes will make John Chayka, 26, the NHL’s youngest general manager Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because the decision hasn’t been announced.

Arizona's new GM is 13 years younger than Coyotes captain Shane Doan.

Chayka, known as a hockey analytics expert, was hired about one year ago as Don Maloney's assistant general manager. Maloney was fired after the Coyotes failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Coach Dave Tippett is expected to have an expanded role in player procurement, and Chayka is expected to head up a department that will place an increased emphasis on advanced statistical evaluation.

Chayka's hiring could lead to the hiring of more general managers who emphasize statistical analysis. Kyle Dubas, 29, is an advanced stats expert and the assistant general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.     

 

According to the Coyotes website, before joining the organization, Chayka co-founded and served as Director of Hockey Operations at Stathletes Inc. since 2009. Stathletes is a hockey analytics firm that tracks data through an intensive video analysis process and breaks down the game to provide objective insight into player and team performance tendencies

Chayka was a 24-goal scorer in junior hockey for the Woodstock Slammers in the Maritime Junior Hockey League, according to Hockey Database.

Before You Leave, Check This Out