Coyotes place forward Alex Galchenyuk on waivers 12 days after inking deal
Jul 13, 2023, 9:48 AM | Updated: Jul 14, 2023, 9:11 am
(Photo by Christopher Mast/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Arizona Coyotes placed forward Alex Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers on Thursday just 12 days after the club signed him to a new contract.
“We are aware of the incident involving Alex Galchenyuk and strongly condemn this type of behavior,” the Coyotes said in a statement Friday. “Once the Club was made aware of the allegations, we immediately began the process of terminating his Standard Player’s Contract through the proper channels in conjunction with the National Hockey League.
“As a result, the Arizona Coyotes today have exercised the team’s right to terminate the contract of Alex Galchenyuk due to a material breach of the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract. The Club will have no further comment at this time.”
Galchenyuk was arrested by the Scottsdale Police Department on Sunday for charges that include private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest and threatening or intimidating.
The Athletic’s Katie Strang adds that the forward was booked into jail Sunday evening and was released the following day under his own recognizance. He was arraigned Monday.
Before his abbreviated stint with Arizona this offseason, the forward had been with the Coyotes two times prior. He first headed to the desert during the 2018-19 season (72 games played) and again in 2021-22 (60).
Galchenyuk’s first campaign in Arizona was his best as a Coyote, registering 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points and 34 penalty minutes.
The forward spent last season as a member of the Colorado Avalanche, appearing in 11 games. He recorded just four PIM and had eight shots on goal during that span.
Placing Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers is the latest move by the Coyotes this offseason.
A day earlier, the team inked Travis Dermott to a one-year, two-way contract. The Coyotes have also added newcomers Travis Barron, center Alex Kerfoot, forward Jason Zucker, defenseman Cameron Crotty and goalie Matt Villalta through free agency while trading for defenseman Sean Durzi.
Additionally, Arizona saw the return of forward Nick Bjugstad and defenseman Troy Stecher.