Todd Cordell
Personally I really like the decision to hand the GM reigns to John Chayka. He seems like a bright hockey mind and he founded an analytics company so he understands the value they bring to the table. As someone who will run a team that doesn't spend to the cap knowing how to make every dollar count will be very useful.
I also like the idea of giving a young guy a chance to prove his worth, and injecting new blood into the organization, rather than recycling the same guys we've seen for decades.
Dave Tippett getting more say in personnel decisions is smart, too. He's one of the better coaches in the NHL and is also open-minded when it comes to analytics so he can offer the best of both worlds.
Obviously time will tell how this works out but I think it could be a good marriage.
James Tanner I like this move very much. "Like" probably not being a strong enough word. It's clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that the best way to evaluate players is with analytic principles, math and statistics and now the Coyotes have become the first team in the NHL to take that to the logical conclusion: having a math guy run a team.
I mean, if you think about it: Chayka is 26 and started a company to analyze hockey data in 2009 that was so successful he got hired by an NHL team. Now he runs one. Would you rather have that kind of genius in charge or some old guy who makes decisions based on his feelings whose sole authority is derived by the fact that he used to be an athlete?
Whether Chayka is young is beside the point. The fact that he's probably a genius isn't. Why teams haven't already realized that intelligence is a bigger factor in management than athletic skills is beyond me, but it's about time.
This is a victory for anyone who ever had to listen to some ignorant person ask them if they even watch hockey. This is a great day for hockey, analytics, the Coyotes.....everyone.
100% great move. Gutsy, smart, with a massive potential payoff.
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