The Arizona Coyotes are currently working through the first part of their offseason with Steve Sullivan serving as interim GM, after their public breakup with John Chayka earlier in the summer. While they’ve made pitches to Taylor Hall in the meantime and have sent several prospects overseas to continue their development, it will be difficult to navigate the true offseason after the Stanley Cup is awarded without someone in place (though, the Coyotes don’t have a draft pick until the fourth round this season, after being penalized by the league). Craig Morgan of AZ Coyotes Insider reports that a new name has been added to the list of candidates; Jason Karmanos an assistant general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins was interviewed on Thursday.
Karmanos, as you may surmise from his name, is the son of former Carolina Panthers majority owner Peter Karmanos. He served as an AGM and vice president of hockey operations in Carolina for fifteen years before following Jim Rutherford to Pittsburgh. Prior to his career as an executive, Karmanos was also a good player for Harvard University, even suiting up for Team USA at the 1994 World Juniors. Speaking of Harvard, there is an obvious connection there with the Coyotes, as new team president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez is also a grad of the prestigious school.
Already there was some speculation that the Penguins could look to bring back former GM Jason Botterill, after his firing from the Buffalo Sabres. Rutherford did bring back a familiar face in Todd Reirden recently, sparking thought that Botterill could make his return to the front office as well. Should Karmanos leave, there would be an obvious opening.
Still, it’s not clear where the Coyotes are leaning in their search. The team simply can’t stay away from controversy as they try to build up their image under new ownership and were unceremoniously eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs. Arizona collapsed in games four and five, losing 7-1 in both matches.
Now without a first-round draft pick until 202 and more than half the roster scheduled for unrestricted free agency before the 2021-22 season, sweeping changes could be made in Arizona under new management. Even beyond Hall, who is a UFA this fall, Derek Stepan, Michael Grabner, Alex Goligoski, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Jason Demers, Jordan Oesterle, and Antti Raanta are all heading into their final years under contract. That’s a lot of decisions to be made by whoever takes over, though it also does provide an opportunity.
The team has just five players signed long-term, and though at least one of those names has been in the trade rumor mill—captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson—they represent a relatively young core that can still be built around. Top prospects Victor Soderstrom and Barrett Hayton represent real blue-chip talents that can be given full-time roles as well, should the new manager commit to a youth movement.