The Arizona Coyotes have been hammered with a stiff penalty for violating the NHL’s Combine Testing Policy. The team will forfeit their 2020 second-round pick along with their 2021 first-round pick. The sanctions were handed out because the Coyotes violated the policy by conducting physical testing on 2020 draft-eligible players prior to the combine. The team will not face any financial penalties and the staff members involved will not receive individual discipline. Commissioner Gary Bettman released a decision, which included the following explanation:
As for the Club personnel who participated in, or may have contributed to, the Club’s violation of the Policy, I have decided that no discipline shall be imposed on these individuals. While I conclude that certain Club personnel acted in a grossly negligent manner at best, which was conceded by the Club, I ultimately conclude that the record does not establish—to a standard with which I am comfortable—that those individuals engaged in intentional wrongdoing, as opposed to grossly negligent behavior.
The Coyotes already didn’t have their 2020 first-round pick or 2021 third-round because of the Taylor Hall trade or their 2020 third-round pick because of the Carl Soderberg trade. Add those moves to this penalty and the Coyotes won’t be walking up to the podium very often over the next two seasons. For a team that is still trying to build its reputation and market after another recent ownership change, this is brutal news.
Arizona released the following statement in response to the punishment:
We were advised today of the NHL’s ruling regarding the allegations of physical fitness testing of draft prospects and respect the League’s ruling. Under new leadership, we have added thorough internal controls and compliance measures to prevent this type of occurrence from happening again in the future. We will have no further comment.
Wow! Kind of *real* punishment? (insert shocked-face emoji here)
So disappointing. Hopefully Chayka now that he revealed his character – never works again for an NHL team.
How are they not investingating stathletes?
Well Chayka or however it’s spelled is gone, so that’s one big piece of that puzzle. Surprised something along of what happened to the Atlanta braves a few years ago didn’t happen.
Chayka has zero integrity. Chayka’s compnay Stathletes is behind this for sure. Investigate them. His sister Meghan Chayka works for Stathletes.
link to theathletic.com
Says it all
I think coyotes days are numbered.
I agree. They’ll be some other franchise by some point in the next year or so.
Definitely want to read more about John Chayka and Stathletes. His sister works for Stathletes. Is Chayka using data corruption part of the story for the Coyotes? Below is Vancouver Reporter who reveals the story of Meghan & John Chayka’s Stathletes company corruption. More on this story please! link to theathletic.com
More than the Patriots ever got. More than the Astros got. More than the Red Sox got.
Bettman doing it right again.
Those cheating teams stole championships and got wrist slaps. The Yotes engage in the sports equivalent of jaywalking and Bettman cuts their arm off.
More than the Patriots ever got? Lol you insane, go back and look up the draft picks the Patriots lost. This is a slap on the wrist compared to NE draft pick loss. You sound like a butt hurt fan that Tommy and Bill tormented for the last 20 years. Weep.
And you sound like Peter Griffin.
I don’t care about the Steelers. In fact, I root for them to lose because of Pouncey.
I just don’t have a ton of respect for cheaters or the sycophants whose lives are so empty that they have to brag about asterisks.
And yes, Bettman taking two high picks from the Yotes for this one very minor isolated incident is far more than what the Pats got for years and years of systematic cheating that resulted in multiple fraudulent titles…after Goodell DESTROYED the tapes.
But, hey, if it makes you happy to live that lie, more power to you. Enjoy.
stupid rule to begin with tbh
No it’s not. It’s meant to prevent tampering with prospects. The rules are there for a reason. Just because you’re aren’t smart enough to understand the process doesn’t mean it’s “stupid”.
Doesn’t hurt them at all they can’t draft for the life of them I can’t think of one great they ever drafted
And Bettman has the balls to actually punish a team for “cheating” in the prospect evaluation stage. Might even have been a bit harsh! I hope there are more details released as to what they did wrong. (It hasn’t all been disclosed yet, has it?).
Meanwhile in the MLB, a team cheats their way to (and possibly to win) the World Series for several seasons and they simply fired their manager/GM.
Chayka is behind this. And his company Stathletes. His sister works for them.