The Arizona Coyotes were an American professional ice hockey team that was based in Phoenix, Arizona , Glendale, Arizona , and later Tempe , Arizona. They played in the Central Division of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team started out as a charter member of the World Hockey Association (WHA), and were named the Winnipeg Jets . The WHA then merged with the NHL in 1979, the Jets relocated to Phoenix in 1996, and were renamed the Phoenix Coyotes. The franchise had ten general managers .[ 1]
Key of terms and definitions
Term
Definition
No.
Number of general managers[a]
Ref(s)
References
–
Does not apply
†
Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder category
General managers of the Arizona Coyotes franchise
No.
Name
Tenure
Accomplishments during this term
Ref(s)
–
Annis Stukus
December 2, 1971 – July 1974
[ 2] [ 3]
–
Rudy Pilous †
July 1974 – November 22, 1978
[ 3] [ 4]
1
John Ferguson, Sr.
November 22, 1978 – October 30, 1988
Won Avco World Trophy (1978–79 )
7 playoff appearances
[ 5] [ 6]
2
Mike Smith
October 30, 1988 – January 19, 1994
[ 7] [ 8]
3
John Paddock
January 19, 1994 – December 11, 1996
[ 8] [ 9]
4
Bobby Smith
December 11, 1996 – February 17, 2001
[ 9] [ 10]
5
Cliff Fletcher †
February 17, 2001 – August 28, 2001
[ 10] [ 11]
6
Mike Barnett
August 28, 2001 – April 11, 2007
[ 11] [ 12]
7
Don Maloney
May 29, 2007 – April 11, 2016
[ 13] [ 14]
8
John Chayka
May 5, 2016 – July 26, 2020
[ 15] [ 16]
9
Steve Sullivan
July 26, 2020 – September 16, 2020
[ 16]
10
Bill Armstrong
September 16, 2020 – April 18, 2024
[ 1] [ 17]
a A running total of the number of general managers of the franchise. Thus any general manager who has two or more separate terms as general manager is only counted once. WHA general managers are not counted towards the total.[ 15]
^ a b "Arizona Coyotes Name Bill Armstrong as General Manager" . Arizona Coyotes . September 17, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2024 .
^ "Annis Stukus named gm for WHA Jets" . Ottawa Journal . December 3, 1971. p. 24. Retrieved July 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b "The rumors still flying between here and Winnipeg" . Brandon Sun . July 10, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved July 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "no title" . Ottawa Journal . December 16, 1978. p. 29. Retrieved July 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Jets land Ferguson" . Ottawa Journal . November 23, 1978. p. 22. Retrieved July 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "AROUND THE NHL" . The Washington Post . October 31, 1988. Retrieved July 13, 2015 .
^ "Hockey Today Monday, Dec. 4" . AP . December 4, 1988. Retrieved July 13, 2015 .
^ a b "SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Winnipeg Official Out" . The New York Times . January 20, 1994. Retrieved July 13, 2015 .
^ a b "Coyotes Fire General Manager" . The New York Times . December 12, 1996. Retrieved July 13, 2015 .
^ a b Diamos, Jason (February 18, 2001). "HOCKEY; Trade Wheels Start to Turn as Gretzky Takes the Helm" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 13, 2015 .
^ a b Diamos, Jason (August 29, 2001). "PLUS: HOCKEY; Agent Becomes G.M. Of the Coyotes" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 13, 2015 .
^ "Coyotes fire Barnett, Fletcher, Gilman" . ESPN.com . April 11, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2015 .
^ "COYOTES NAME DON MALONEY AS GENERAL MANAGER" . Arizona Coyotes . May 30, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2015 .
^ "Coyotes Relieve Maloney of Duties as General Manager" . Arizona Coyotes . April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016 .
^ a b "Coyotes Name Chayka as General Manager" . Arizona Coyotes . May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016 .
^ a b "Arizona Coyotes Statement" . Arizona Coyotes . July 26, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2024 .
^ "Board Approves Establishment of New Franchise in Utah, Future Reactivation of Arizona Franchise" . Arizona Coyotes . April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024 .
Franchise History Personnel Arenas Culture and lore
Franchise History Arena Culture and lore