You knew this day would eventually arrive.
It took longer than expected, however, the Arizona Coyotes have finally hired GM Don Maloney's new right hand man. Former Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier has been hired to be the new Sr. VP and Assistant General Manager of the Desert Dogs. Regier has signed a multi-year deal.
Yotes GM Don Maloney hired his friend and former NY Islanders bunker mate Regier. The two men hold a special distinction in that they both served as the GM of bankrupt teams that were being operated in receivership of the NHL while new owners could be found. Both men were able to assemble and operate competitive NHL squads despite being at a distinct disadvantage from a financial resources pint of view. Maloney and Regier have perfected the fine art of making the most of the least in their leadership careers. Regier will be a great fit for the Yotes because he has touched so many aspects of the hockey operation including: contract negotiations, drafting, salary cap management, player development, free agent signings, nd more. Regier's patience became his calling card in Buffalo. It will serve him well in his new endeavor in Arizona.
Thanks, Coyotes TV
The Yotes' AGM job was held by Brad Treliving, however, he left Arizona in April to become the new GM of the Calgary Flames.
Regier had previously served as GM of the Sabres for 17 years. By far the longest tenure in Sabres team history for a GM. Regier and Ron Rolston were fired on November 12, 2014.
"He's done it all," Maloney said. "If you think about the experience he's had over the last 17 years in Buffalo, everything from great success, Stanley Cup final, bankruptcy, coming out of that. There was a point at the end where there were limited resources. So there's nothing he hasn't seen or done or tried."
Regier's name has been connected to Maloney and the Arizona AGM job for some time.
Regier is familiar with Maloney, having had their front-office careers overlap with the New York Islanders when Maloney was GM and Regier served as assistant GM in the early 1990s. He also knows Dave Tippett and identified that familiarity as a reason the Coyotes would be a fit for him.
Regier told the Cotes' website that he his absence from the NHL made his heart grow fonder for it.
"As time went on it became more and more clear that I love being around the game and in the game, and I’m very excited to be given this opportunity to come here," Regier said. "The leadership here is terrific and the culture that has been created by Don and Dave Tippett and the leadership group of players is something most teams long for."
Maloney and Regier were brought up together in the front office of the NY Islanders some twenty years ago.
"Don is a high quality person and very trustworthy and honest, and we’ve had a great relationship," Regier said.
Regier's skates are already on the ice in Arizona. He will attend the annual prospect development camp next week. He and Maloney also have to work out all of the details of his new job description.
"We’ve had conversations but we’ll have a lot more conversations about it," Regier said. "I’m excited, as this evolves, to find out where I can best help the organization."
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On Thursday, Sabres GM Tim Murray sign a veteran D-man to help bolster his D corps in Rochester.
Tyson Strachan has earned himself a one-year contract.
Strachan (6'3", 215 lbs., 10/30/1984) appeared in 18 games with the Washington Capitals in 2013-14, recording two assists and 28 penalty minutes. He spent the majority of the season with the Hershey Bears (AHL), appearing in 60 games and tallying 19 points (4+15), 56 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating.
Drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Strachan (pronounced STRAHK-uhn) has appeared in 138 NHL games in parts of six NHL seasons with St. Louis, Florida and Washington, totaling 15 points (1+14) and 155 penalty minutes.
Strachan is the owner of an impressive AHL resume having played eight AHL seasons with Albany, Peoria, San Antonio and Hershey. He's created 87 points (16G, 71A) and 326 PIMs in 276 regular-season games.
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