ARIZONA COYOTES

Sports Illustrated ranks Coyotes signing of assistant GM John Chayka among best this offseason

Jul 20, 2015, 7:52 PM | Updated: 7:53 pm

...

The Arizona Coyotes have had a very successful off-season making on-ice personnel moves.

They were able to bring back solid veterans in Antoine Vermette, Boyd Gordon and Zbynek Michalek, while adding players like Nicklas Grossman, Steve Downie, Brad Richardson and John Scott.

Not to mention the strong draft class from general manager Don Maloney, headlined by the selection of Dylan Strome.

The team was able to garner more praise on Monday, this time about a move they made to their front office.

Arizona’s signing of assistant general manager John Chayka made Sports Illustrated’s 10 smartest off-ice hiring’s of the 2015 season.

Not everyone has been won over by the value of analytics, but a team with limited resources and even less talent simply can’t afford to ignore them. Chayka, the 25-year-old co-founder of Stathletes, is being tasked with identifying value in the market, particularly of veteran players who can augment a lineup that is expected to skew young for the next several years. He was the driving force behind the signing of Brad Richardson this month. Of course, Arizona also picked up lumbering winger John Scott, who is best known for slinging his fists. We’ll see how those moves, and the ones that follow, pay off.

Chayka was specifically signed to oversee the Coyotes analytic department.

His company states on their website that every facet of each game is observed and recorded through their intensive video analysis process, yielding over 100 times the statistical resolution of existing tracking methods.

The move signified another step towards the Coyotes exciting youth movement of building a successful future.

Arizona Coyotes

Matias Maccelli #63 of the Arizona Coyotes skates with the puck during an NHL game at Mullett Arena...

Associated Press

Josh Doan nets twice in NHL debut, Coyotes score 4 goals in 3rd and beat Blue Jackets

Josh Doan had two goals including the go-ahead score in his first NHL game and the Arizona Coyotes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2.

1 day ago

ASU hockey player Josh Doan and father Shane Doan wave to fans before the ceremonial first puck to ...

David Veenstra

Arizona Coyotes forward Josh Doan scores twice in NHL debut

Coyotes forward Josh Doan scored twice in his NHL debut on Tuesday. Doan had goals in the second and third period against Columbus. 

2 days ago

Josh Doan...

Damon Allred

Arizona Coyotes recall forward Josh Doan from Tucson Roadrunners

The Arizona Coyotes recalled former second-round pick Josh Doan, son of former captain Shane Doan, from the Tucson Roadrunners.

3 days ago

Miro Heiskanen #4 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck while being defended by Alex Kerfoot #15...

Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes fall to Dallas Stars for 2nd time in last 3 games

Miro Heiskanen broke a tie with 5:28 left and the Stars won their fourth consecutive game, beating the Coyotes on Sunday night.

4 days ago

Dylan Guenther...

Associated Press

Coyotes’ Dylan Guenther scores overtime game-winner vs. Kraken

Dylan Guenther scored in overtime to give the Arizona Coyotes a win over Seattle on Friday night.

5 days ago

Arizona Coyotes center Liam O'Brien...

Associated Press

Coyotes’ struggles in Dallas continue despite Clayton Keller stacking goals

The Dallas Stars extended their home points streak against the Coyotes to 19 games with a victory on Wednesday night.

8 days ago

Sports Illustrated ranks Coyotes signing of assistant GM John Chayka among best this offseason