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Chayka Connected to Pegulas (PSE)? Coyotes Hire New GM

Might the talk of John Chayka leaving the Arizona Coyotes be connected to Pegula Sports and Entertainment?

As a follow up to yesterday’s report that there are rumblings behind the scenes in Arizona, John Chayka’s possible exit as general manager may have to do with a job offer coming from a rival NHL organization, in a manner of speaking.

It was noted this week by a number of reputable insiders that Chayka may not join the Coyotes team in the bubble, he has cleaned out his office, and he was not present for a meeting with Taylor Hall. Instead, ownership has been looking after some of the bigger decisions and there are whispers that issues have arisen between the two sides.

** Update: Steve Sullivan will be GM of ARIZ. Likely on an interim basis, but I could see the Coyotes giving him a long look.
Related: Is John Chayka Out as GM of the Arizona Coyotes?

It was then said that another club was interested in talking to Chayka, which they did after getting permission from the Coyotes. That upset Arizona ownership to the point they felt they could no longer support Chayka as GM. Whether or not things have reached that point are not is unclear.

The latest, according to Coyotes insider Craig Morgan, is that an offer has come to Chayka from an outside group. That group is looking to bring him on as something higher than a GM and not necessarily exclusively related to NHL business. Morgan called it “another professional opportunity.,” and could be a position in ownership somewhere.

Patrick Johnston of the Ottawa Citizen has suggested Kim and Terry Pegula of Pegula Sports and Entertainment are behind the recent news. They own multiple teams and businesses and have had an eye on Chayka for a while. They recently cleaned out a ton of staff and could be looking to have someone like Chayka take on a larger role in their organization.

Whether or not that’s with the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills, Rochester Americans, or the rink and the hotel complex next door (all of which they own) is not clear. So too, Chayka grew up about 40 minutes from Buffalo and has connections in that area.

Johnston says, “Don’t be surprised if you see him going home to take up a bigger position with PSE.”

Next: Darnell Nurse Not On Ice For Oilers Scrimmage Saturday
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