I’d be very okay with Doan coming into a Shanahan type role with this organization and Sully being the GM. Either way, there’s just no reason not to bring Doaner into the fold this offseason or next. The old management group is mostly gone, it’s time to do it and I hope Meruelo feels the same way.
Here’s what’s crazy about having Doan back as GM: At some point he would be fired or quit. What if he makes bad moves? Poor management decides to go in a different direction? He is such a fabric of this organization. The brightest spot in our history. We need to have him back in the organization, but it literally needs to be in a position where there is no threat to his legacy.
He either gets the job or the Coyotes lose him because he shouldn't now be demoted back down the line. Murelo gets the big say here, but I think you keep him and bring one or two from the list on to work with him. I also think it is time to bring Doan back in and offer him in a meaningful position.
There are multiple great options, but the key point to be gleaned from this is some manner of getting Doaner back into the organization. Without question. He'd be a huge factor in the arena project, sponsor relationships, public relations. And in this new world, as businesses try to recover, he would absolutely prove to be a great ambassador to re-energize the Valley's tie to the team.
Whats the timeline like for solidifying GM? Like everyone here, I agree bringing Shane in for an advisory/governor/hockey ops/whatever role is a must. He needs to have a seat at the table here. If not Sullivan, I like the idea of Shero or Gilman (though I'm biased on Gilman - he's a family friend)
They haven't set one yet. They are meeting this week to formulate a plan and ID candidates, but they obviously have to do this in fairly short order with the draft and free agency approaching in early October.
I'm sure the organization will do their homework and hire the right person for the job, I hope Sullivan gets a fair shake, promotion from within. I along w/all the other fans would just love to see Shane Doan back with the organization in some capacity, he has valuable skills and the personality to win over even the most opposed. Tough decisions ahead, can only hope they work out in our favor.
OEL rumors swirling. Monahan rumors swirling. Calgary has four of their top seven D on expiring contracts. Coyotes have needed a 1C for years. Treliving and Maloney drafted, developed and had OEL rose to prominence under them in Phoenix.
I dunno. There are some serious concerns about Monahan, too, but he would at least help the center position. To date, he has not been a difference maker in Calgary, however.
If I recall, there's been talk of "character issues" relating to Monahan going back to his time in Junior. I know our impression of OEL has taken a hit the past couple years, but I still feel like we could do better than a one-for-one OEL/Monahan trade.
I think you’re mistaken. He was the captain of the Ottawa 67s which is rather rare for a draft eligible player in the CHL. There are typically no more than two of these in any given draft and often times there are none.
Furthermore, he was lauded by scouting services and people around the game giving direct quotes to media as being a great two-way player and leader. It was pretty universal. If anyone thought he had character issues it was whispers not quotes. The quotes were the opposite:
I agree that Monahan isn’t the ideal 1C. But he’s been in the league for seven seasons and produced 22, 31, 27, 27, 31, 34, and 22 Goals in those seasons respectively.
That’s impressive given that he’s still only 25 (four years younger than OEL). He wins over 50% of his faceoffs, he rarely takes penalties, and he is a career 0.76 point-per-game in the NHL.
He’s too passive and inconsistent and sometimes looks more comfortable than you want. Other than the one 82 point season, he’s never elevated to that elite production level.
On the whole, if the Coyotes acquired him, he’d be the most impressive (on paper) center they’ve had since they acquired Olli Jokinen over 12 years ago. Obviously that says more about how terrible the center position has been for the Coyotes in that time than it does about Monahan who’s a low-end 1C.
Jokinen was a disaster. Just like Ribeiro after him. Stepan has been a major disappointment, too, after paying 1C acquisition prices for a 3C (with a 1C cap-hit). But I don’t think that means you stop trying. Sometimes guys have to move before they elevate. Like Ryan O’Reilly.
Speaking of Character issues, I think Jokinen and Ribeiro had extremely real red flags. Major ones that were well documented. Not whatever is insinuated about Monahan. Even O’Reilly had the contract hold-out, the bizarre fleeing to the KHL, drunkenly crashing his truck into a building, and his insane, over-involved dad.
All I’ve read about Monahan is that he’s been less than hoped for as a 6th overall pick. Which is a little wild if you actually look at the numbers. He’s had elite level production compared to the average 6th overall pick.
OEL is more similar to Monahan than not, I think. He was given the big contract and the captaincy and I think we can all agree he’s not giving us as much as we hoped for. His production and his apparent (what I can see from TV or in the stands) effort level is also inconsistent. The complaints from Calgary fans about Monahan sound an awful lot like our complaints about OEL.
OEL is no longer a top-end 1D. He’s very much a low-end 1D. There is no chance at all the Coyotes are able to get a top-end 1C for OEL. You’re going to be looking at the Ryan Johansens or Sean Monahans of the world. Not Matthews or Barzal. Selling now on OEL is selling low on OEL.
Alternatively, we could trade him for center prospects and cross our fingers and say a prayer. Our development track-record of these types has been abhorrent as of late. Strome was a disaster. Dvorak looked like a blue-chip and now looks more like the next Stepan. Even Hayton has had very controversial handling and isn’t really impressing anyone.
So while we might get an Alex Newhook or Peyton Krebs type for OEL, or an Anton Lundell, or Dylan Halloway if we get a 1st rounder, what good does that do us if we can’t develop them?
Go outside the organization... Continuity down the same road is suicide. Teams is not and wouldn't have been a playoff team if not for covid. Can't we all just admit that?!?!?!?!?
I listened to this podcast where the hosts continually said Montreal and Chicago weren't real playoff teams, well THE COYOTES WERE NOT A REAL PLAYOFF TEAM EITHER!!! They got in b/c of covid just like the other crummy "Non playoff teams." And they are not set to be a playoff team next year. Anyone think they will be better than Vegas and Edmonton (after another year w/ Holland and Tip)? That leaves them with the 3rd spot at best, and can anyone say w/ any real belief that this team is better than Vancouver (who's still playing) and Calgary (even though some changes will be made). Let's stop pretending that this team is anything more than a bottom 1/3 team in the league w/ a bloated payroll and cap max situation.
No to Shane Doan and no to Steve Sullivan. They need someone with experience to clean up this mess. They just had a completely inexperienced general manager and look where it got them?
The fact that Mereulo was able to be sold by Chayka that this plan was of quality is concerning.
This was a bad plan as soon as he started giving away lots of money to players who didn't deserve the cash. Move on and rebuild...
There is plenty of validity to that viewpoint, but if the structure were right, I think he could learn under a more seasoned outsider. I'm not sure if ownership is open to that sort of structure, but I think it could be beneficial for everyone.
I do believe that Doan has enormous value to this organization, whether it's through his community connections or his league-wide connections. He became an Arizona icon despite playing hockey -- and he did it on a team that didn't accomplish much in his 20 seasons. This market has a visceral connection to Doan. That means something.
PR and community relations are always good, but I also think that if the team was putting up 100pt seasons every year, people would show up regardless. All of a sudden that inconvenient drive doesn't feel so bad. So we'll let him be Special Assistant to the General Manager and Public Relations ambassador. Also, does he want to work that much? He obviously doesn't need the cash, and his job w/ the league seems kind of cushy plus his outside interests.
A great article as always. I attend all the prospect camps, prospect showcases and veterans camps that are open to the public. Conor Garland is my favorite player having followed him in juniors. I love the way Sullivan took him under his wing from the very beginning to help Conor believe that he could bea NHL player. He took a lot of time with the lower level prospects both in Glendale and then in Tucson. The comvbination of Sullivan, Van Ryan and Doaner is an unbeatable one IMO. I worked for Juvenile Probation for 33 years and from time to time we had to replace leadership positions. Sometimes insiders were promoted and other times "stars" were brought in from other departments. IMO, insiders could hit the ground running from the start with a minimum of disruption to the system. "Stars" always had an adjustment period that delayed or disrupted things. A cohesive management group would go a long way to having a cohesive team identity where each member would play for the others to the best of their ability every game, period and shift. That's what Van Ryan was able to accomplish with the Roadrunners.With a flat cap we're going to have to use more of our RRs who already have working relationships with one or more of the Van Ryan, Sullivan, Doan group as do many of the current roster that is likely returning. With a quick return to play in a shortened season this gives my prospective management a real edge.
Have to agree with Cathy’s insights. To me the best move(s) the Yotes can make is name Sullivan the GM. He’s got all the inside knowledge of the present organization and with the contract “handcuffs” created by Chayka, can best operate within these limitations. I like the idea of making Doan part of the management team and maybe adding Don Maloney to the braintrust (heard DM suggestion elsewhere). Think that’s our best-case Yotes scenario to help navigate us on to bigger and better things (trying to remain positive 😋)...
Great article. This organization won’t make meaningful progress until they replace this coaching staff, however. A willingness to do away with this failed staff and replace them with a competent group would be my top qualification in any GM candidate. Well, that and not being Peter Chiarelli.
Which is incredible given his abysmal track-record on hockey decisions. Maybe he’s a bright legal mind. A good business man. He’s obviously great at networking and impressing league brass. Perhaps he’d make a good president of the team. But certainly not a GM. He’s proven that. He’s made it abundantly clear he’s not cut out for trading and signing NHL players.
Whomever is selected needs to have a nose for talent at the draft. Even more important in today’s flat cap world. Not counting the last couple of years as it’s too early, Arizona needs more singles and doubles in the draft year over year and not just the occasional 3 run homer. How’s that for cross sport analogies. Never mind the GM
how does the scouting department for AZ compare to other teams. Would someone like Judd Brackett be just as important of a hire? Bring Doan in the President role for sure and let that be known during the interview process.
It is too early to judge the new scouting staff because they truly only have overseen one draft, but I agree that department is critical and you have to spend to make it good (see Chicago). Scouts are the ones who ID the talent, not the GM. They basically run the draft with the final stamp of approval coming from the GM, but the GM hires the scouts, so...
I’d be very okay with Doan coming into a Shanahan type role with this organization and Sully being the GM. Either way, there’s just no reason not to bring Doaner into the fold this offseason or next. The old management group is mostly gone, it’s time to do it and I hope Meruelo feels the same way.
Me, too. He need to be a part of this organization.
Here’s what’s crazy about having Doan back as GM: At some point he would be fired or quit. What if he makes bad moves? Poor management decides to go in a different direction? He is such a fabric of this organization. The brightest spot in our history. We need to have him back in the organization, but it literally needs to be in a position where there is no threat to his legacy.
It is an interesting thought, and one I have thought about, too.
My question is "Does Sullivan want the job"?
He either gets the job or the Coyotes lose him because he shouldn't now be demoted back down the line. Murelo gets the big say here, but I think you keep him and bring one or two from the list on to work with him. I also think it is time to bring Doan back in and offer him in a meaningful position.
He absolutely wants the job.
Then I think he should get the job.
There are multiple great options, but the key point to be gleaned from this is some manner of getting Doaner back into the organization. Without question. He'd be a huge factor in the arena project, sponsor relationships, public relations. And in this new world, as businesses try to recover, he would absolutely prove to be a great ambassador to re-energize the Valley's tie to the team.
Yep. He would help in so many ways.
Whats the timeline like for solidifying GM? Like everyone here, I agree bringing Shane in for an advisory/governor/hockey ops/whatever role is a must. He needs to have a seat at the table here. If not Sullivan, I like the idea of Shero or Gilman (though I'm biased on Gilman - he's a family friend)
They haven't set one yet. They are meeting this week to formulate a plan and ID candidates, but they obviously have to do this in fairly short order with the draft and free agency approaching in early October.
I'm sure the organization will do their homework and hire the right person for the job, I hope Sullivan gets a fair shake, promotion from within. I along w/all the other fans would just love to see Shane Doan back with the organization in some capacity, he has valuable skills and the personality to win over even the most opposed. Tough decisions ahead, can only hope they work out in our favor.
Critical hire.
Any insight on Elliot Friedman’s “keep an eye on the OEL situation in Arizona”?
Yes. I touched on it in my mailbag on Friday. Check the section of the mailbag with the OEL subhead.
Ray SherI sounds pretty good.
I invest a quarter of my yearly income into a season ticket.
Add to the other bucks I spend at a game, it’s closer to half.
Mr. Muerelo, get serious about this or leave town.
I don’t want a GM chosen based upon the fact that he was wonderful to fans in a receiving line.
Or that he was in this system for years, particularly if he was in “ this” system over the course of the last decade.
Whoever is recruiting your young athletes has not been a good judge of horse flesh.
Barret (8:03) Hayton as our number one young player dies not measure up to the other 19-21’s on many of the teams we play.
Find someone who can get the young impact players.
Thanks Craig
Ray Shero is widely respected around the league. Nobody I spoke to had anything bad to say about him.
Meruelo has owned the team for just short of 13 months. Maybe give him another year or two before you try to run him out of town.
If the coyotes hired Chiarelli i would finally lose all hope i have in this organization.
It's amazing how many sources have told me that he is being pushed on them.
Is there a reason the NHL wants this? Seems so strange to me
OEL rumors swirling. Monahan rumors swirling. Calgary has four of their top seven D on expiring contracts. Coyotes have needed a 1C for years. Treliving and Maloney drafted, developed and had OEL rose to prominence under them in Phoenix.
Seems like a great fit. 1:1 trade.
I dunno. There are some serious concerns about Monahan, too, but he would at least help the center position. To date, he has not been a difference maker in Calgary, however.
OEL certainly isn’t perfect, himself. I can’t imagine getting a No.1 C for him that doesn’t have some warts.
If I recall, there's been talk of "character issues" relating to Monahan going back to his time in Junior. I know our impression of OEL has taken a hit the past couple years, but I still feel like we could do better than a one-for-one OEL/Monahan trade.
I think you’re mistaken. He was the captain of the Ottawa 67s which is rather rare for a draft eligible player in the CHL. There are typically no more than two of these in any given draft and often times there are none.
Furthermore, he was lauded by scouting services and people around the game giving direct quotes to media as being a great two-way player and leader. It was pretty universal. If anyone thought he had character issues it was whispers not quotes. The quotes were the opposite:
https://thehockeywriters.com/sean-monahan-the-next-ones-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/nhl-draft-prospects-no-9-sean-monahan/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.defendingbigd.com/platform/amp/2013/6/7/4404452/2012-nhl-draft-profile-scouting-report-sean-monahan
https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/1681560-sean-monahan-prospect-profile-for-calgary-flames-1st-round-pick.amp.html
He had a 10 game suspension in the OHL but it was for a check. Not any behavior or character issues.
I agree that Monahan isn’t the ideal 1C. But he’s been in the league for seven seasons and produced 22, 31, 27, 27, 31, 34, and 22 Goals in those seasons respectively.
That’s impressive given that he’s still only 25 (four years younger than OEL). He wins over 50% of his faceoffs, he rarely takes penalties, and he is a career 0.76 point-per-game in the NHL.
He’s too passive and inconsistent and sometimes looks more comfortable than you want. Other than the one 82 point season, he’s never elevated to that elite production level.
On the whole, if the Coyotes acquired him, he’d be the most impressive (on paper) center they’ve had since they acquired Olli Jokinen over 12 years ago. Obviously that says more about how terrible the center position has been for the Coyotes in that time than it does about Monahan who’s a low-end 1C.
Jokinen was a disaster. Just like Ribeiro after him. Stepan has been a major disappointment, too, after paying 1C acquisition prices for a 3C (with a 1C cap-hit). But I don’t think that means you stop trying. Sometimes guys have to move before they elevate. Like Ryan O’Reilly.
Speaking of Character issues, I think Jokinen and Ribeiro had extremely real red flags. Major ones that were well documented. Not whatever is insinuated about Monahan. Even O’Reilly had the contract hold-out, the bizarre fleeing to the KHL, drunkenly crashing his truck into a building, and his insane, over-involved dad.
All I’ve read about Monahan is that he’s been less than hoped for as a 6th overall pick. Which is a little wild if you actually look at the numbers. He’s had elite level production compared to the average 6th overall pick.
OEL is more similar to Monahan than not, I think. He was given the big contract and the captaincy and I think we can all agree he’s not giving us as much as we hoped for. His production and his apparent (what I can see from TV or in the stands) effort level is also inconsistent. The complaints from Calgary fans about Monahan sound an awful lot like our complaints about OEL.
OEL is no longer a top-end 1D. He’s very much a low-end 1D. There is no chance at all the Coyotes are able to get a top-end 1C for OEL. You’re going to be looking at the Ryan Johansens or Sean Monahans of the world. Not Matthews or Barzal. Selling now on OEL is selling low on OEL.
Alternatively, we could trade him for center prospects and cross our fingers and say a prayer. Our development track-record of these types has been abhorrent as of late. Strome was a disaster. Dvorak looked like a blue-chip and now looks more like the next Stepan. Even Hayton has had very controversial handling and isn’t really impressing anyone.
So while we might get an Alex Newhook or Peyton Krebs type for OEL, or an Anton Lundell, or Dylan Halloway if we get a 1st rounder, what good does that do us if we can’t develop them?
Hextall.. Philly is his team.
Go outside the organization... Continuity down the same road is suicide. Teams is not and wouldn't have been a playoff team if not for covid. Can't we all just admit that?!?!?!?!?
I listened to this podcast where the hosts continually said Montreal and Chicago weren't real playoff teams, well THE COYOTES WERE NOT A REAL PLAYOFF TEAM EITHER!!! They got in b/c of covid just like the other crummy "Non playoff teams." And they are not set to be a playoff team next year. Anyone think they will be better than Vegas and Edmonton (after another year w/ Holland and Tip)? That leaves them with the 3rd spot at best, and can anyone say w/ any real belief that this team is better than Vancouver (who's still playing) and Calgary (even though some changes will be made). Let's stop pretending that this team is anything more than a bottom 1/3 team in the league w/ a bloated payroll and cap max situation.
No to Shane Doan and no to Steve Sullivan. They need someone with experience to clean up this mess. They just had a completely inexperienced general manager and look where it got them?
The fact that Mereulo was able to be sold by Chayka that this plan was of quality is concerning.
This was a bad plan as soon as he started giving away lots of money to players who didn't deserve the cash. Move on and rebuild...
Look at that. Commenting without personal attacks. I am open to this sort of perspective.
The Walrus is friends to all people.
OK. We good?
Dude we're fine.
As much as people love Doan and all, I don't think this is the job for a rookie gm.
There is plenty of validity to that viewpoint, but if the structure were right, I think he could learn under a more seasoned outsider. I'm not sure if ownership is open to that sort of structure, but I think it could be beneficial for everyone.
I do believe that Doan has enormous value to this organization, whether it's through his community connections or his league-wide connections. He became an Arizona icon despite playing hockey -- and he did it on a team that didn't accomplish much in his 20 seasons. This market has a visceral connection to Doan. That means something.
PR and community relations are always good, but I also think that if the team was putting up 100pt seasons every year, people would show up regardless. All of a sudden that inconvenient drive doesn't feel so bad. So we'll let him be Special Assistant to the General Manager and Public Relations ambassador. Also, does he want to work that much? He obviously doesn't need the cash, and his job w/ the league seems kind of cushy plus his outside interests.
A great article as always. I attend all the prospect camps, prospect showcases and veterans camps that are open to the public. Conor Garland is my favorite player having followed him in juniors. I love the way Sullivan took him under his wing from the very beginning to help Conor believe that he could bea NHL player. He took a lot of time with the lower level prospects both in Glendale and then in Tucson. The comvbination of Sullivan, Van Ryan and Doaner is an unbeatable one IMO. I worked for Juvenile Probation for 33 years and from time to time we had to replace leadership positions. Sometimes insiders were promoted and other times "stars" were brought in from other departments. IMO, insiders could hit the ground running from the start with a minimum of disruption to the system. "Stars" always had an adjustment period that delayed or disrupted things. A cohesive management group would go a long way to having a cohesive team identity where each member would play for the others to the best of their ability every game, period and shift. That's what Van Ryan was able to accomplish with the Roadrunners.With a flat cap we're going to have to use more of our RRs who already have working relationships with one or more of the Van Ryan, Sullivan, Doan group as do many of the current roster that is likely returning. With a quick return to play in a shortened season this gives my prospective management a real edge.
Have to agree with Cathy’s insights. To me the best move(s) the Yotes can make is name Sullivan the GM. He’s got all the inside knowledge of the present organization and with the contract “handcuffs” created by Chayka, can best operate within these limitations. I like the idea of making Doan part of the management team and maybe adding Don Maloney to the braintrust (heard DM suggestion elsewhere). Think that’s our best-case Yotes scenario to help navigate us on to bigger and better things (trying to remain positive 😋)...
I don't think Don Maloney is coming back to AZ.
Also, glad to see you contact Mike Van Ryn. He’s be my top pick to replace Tocchet.
He’s a good dude.
Great article. This organization won’t make meaningful progress until they replace this coaching staff, however. A willingness to do away with this failed staff and replace them with a competent group would be my top qualification in any GM candidate. Well, that and not being Peter Chiarelli.
Amazing how many league sources have told me that the league is pushing Chiarelli.
Which is incredible given his abysmal track-record on hockey decisions. Maybe he’s a bright legal mind. A good business man. He’s obviously great at networking and impressing league brass. Perhaps he’d make a good president of the team. But certainly not a GM. He’s proven that. He’s made it abundantly clear he’s not cut out for trading and signing NHL players.
Whomever is selected needs to have a nose for talent at the draft. Even more important in today’s flat cap world. Not counting the last couple of years as it’s too early, Arizona needs more singles and doubles in the draft year over year and not just the occasional 3 run homer. How’s that for cross sport analogies. Never mind the GM
how does the scouting department for AZ compare to other teams. Would someone like Judd Brackett be just as important of a hire? Bring Doan in the President role for sure and let that be known during the interview process.
It is too early to judge the new scouting staff because they truly only have overseen one draft, but I agree that department is critical and you have to spend to make it good (see Chicago). Scouts are the ones who ID the talent, not the GM. They basically run the draft with the final stamp of approval coming from the GM, but the GM hires the scouts, so...
I have a feeling, let's describe it a sinking one, a new broom situation is in the wind and Sully (and 19) aren't going to be part of any new look.