Confirmed with Link: Coyotes offer Bill Armstrong GM position (update: confirmed as GM)

[rt]

Both of our primary assistants seem like future head coaches. Van Ryn is probably ready sooner.

Steve Sullivan hired him to be the Head Coach for our AHL affiliate in Tucson. MVR was extremely successful down there. Made a real impact. Conor Garland still talks about it. If BA keeps Steve Sullivan on as AGM, I could see MVR ending up with Tocchet’s job.

 

[Spear]

Both of our primary assistants seem like future head coaches. Van Ryn is probably ready sooner.

I made a poll on the Coyotes board a couple of weeks ago and I think the results were 50 in favor of firing Tocchet immediately, 2 in favor of waiting to fire him until mid-season, and only 1 in favor of not firing him at all. It’s fairly unanimous on our board that we want Tocchet out. The most discussed name for a potential replacement amongst our little group? Mike Van Ryn.

BOTH Bill Armstrong and Mike Van Ryn ?
Blues fans demand compensation! (just don't wake up judge Houston)

 

[Blueston]

BOTH Bill Armstrong and Mike Van Ryn ?
Blues fans demand compensation! (just don't wake up judge Houston)

If they take Steen contract we'll call it even.

 

[Blueston]

Steve Sullivan hired him to be the Head Coach for our AHL affiliate in Tucson. MVR was extremely successful down there. Made a real impact. Conor Garland still talks about it. If BA keeps Steve Sullivan on as AGM, I could see MVR ending up with Tocchet’s job.

Thanks for color. I thought he had been at Tuscon.

 

[Alklha]

So LeBrun is saying that he has a five year contract, which makes sense to what it would take. Gives Armstrong security and let's him see through whatever plan he's laid out to ownership that got him the job.

I wonder if we will see some activity between the Blues and Coyotes in the next month.

 

[execwrite1]

Well earned and Congratulations Bill. He deserves the shot and will do well.

Just hope the ownership stabilizes and he isn't walking into a chaotic situation.

 

[Stealth JD]

Wow...Congrats to Bill Armstrong. Very well deserved. The Coyotes will benefit tremendously from this hire. If MVR goes too, well then that's just a good reflection on the job Doug Armstrong and staff have done in the past decade-plus. Very happy for Barmy. He'll be sorely missed in the Blues organization. Hopefully our next hire proves to be as good as his predecessor(s). Those are some big shoes to fill.

 

[Heldig]

So LeBrun is saying that he has a five year contract, which makes sense to what it would take. Gives Armstrong security and let's him see through whatever plan he's laid out to ownership that got him the job.

I wonder if we will see some activity between the Blues and Coyotes in the next month.

Clearly the plan for the Coyotes is to dump OEL for futures so the new GM can sign Pieterangelo

 

[542365]

Only a matter of time. He’s too good of a hockey mind to be an assistant forever.

I am a little concerned about this upcoming draft though. B-Army would obviously have insider information on the Blues’ targets and scouting reports while the Blues would not have the Yotes’ info. Doesn’t seem entirely fair, but also probably isn’t that big of a deal.

Congrats to B-Army either way. I think he’ll definitely have success in his new role.

 

[rt]

Only a matter of time. He’s too good of a hockey mind to be an assistant forever.

I am a little concerned about this upcoming draft though. B-Army would obviously have insider information on the Blues’ targets and scouting reports while the Blues would not have the Yotes’ info. Doesn’t seem entirely fair, but also probably isn’t that big of a deal.

Congrats to B-Army either way. I think he’ll definitely have success in his new role.

Historically the new GM doesn’t participate in the draft if he’s hired away from another team right before. For the Coyotes that likely means Hofford will run the draft. Afterwards, Armstrong will have to decide whether he wants to keep or replace Hofford and his scouting staff.

 

[mk80]

Good for Bill, bad for the Blues. But it all depends on who fills the AGM and Director of Scouting roles for us.

 

[Ranksu]

Sad day for Blues. Bill deserve it. Hopefully we don't end up deep downhill, but this clearly doesn't look promising.

All the cards are now Doug Armstrong's hands. Jeesus Christ.

First losing Bill and then maybe Pietrangelo.

 

[Falco Lombardi]

This sucks for us, but Bill deserves it. Honestly might have preferred to keep him over Doug

 

[WeWentBlues]

99 Rams sitch unfolding before our very eyes.

 

[Bluesnatic27]

Great for BA. Hopefully he becomes the answer for Arizona, because he did some great things for St. Louis.

But I hope that the Blues still keep their scouting staff.

 

[Brian39]

I am a little concerned about this upcoming draft though. B-Army would obviously have insider information on the Blues’ targets and scouting reports while the Blues would not have the Yotes’ info.

The Coyotes don't have a draft pick in the first 3 rounds this year. Even if Bill shares some info about our plans, they don't really have the ability to poach guys we wanted.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

His first act is to sign Petro with the Yotes.

 

[Robb_K]

If they take Steen contract we'll call it even.

Let them take Steen as Assistant GM and chief scout for a big salary, and he retires as a player.

 

[Brockon]

The Coyotes don't have a draft pick in the first 3 rounds this year. Even if Bill shares some info about our plans, they don't really have the ability to poach guys we wanted.

They have 80.4m spent with 17 players under contract... 1.1m to sign 6 guys doesn't add up. Even after the Hossa contract is placed on LTIR that's 6.38m space for 6 guys. Doable but... They need a 3C unless that's Hayton that's an external fill they're not going to be paying league minimum for...

BA has a lot of work to clean up before he can even start trying to implement his vision - unless he lets the Yotes crater for the next season so he has 27+ mil come off the books that way.

They've got to clear cap, I'd expect they'll receive some draft capital in the first 3 rounds for some of the upcoming moves. Especially if the rumours that ownership wants to stop spending to the cap without gate revenue coming in happen to be true - they'll be moving a few desirable assets. I'll be surprised if the Yotes don't end up drafting in the top 60 picks.

Guys like Demers, Goligoski, Brassard and Grabner all go UFA after this season. Some minor retention will see something like a 3rd-5th come in, and retaining more could put that in the 2nd-3rd territory with ease.

 

[Stealth JD]

The Coyotes don't have a draft pick in the first 3 rounds this year. Even if Bill shares some info about our plans, they don't really have the ability to poach guys we wanted.

But B.Army would know who the Blues maybe be targeting for later rounds, and could easily take a guy he likes in the 5th round. That could be viewed as breaking an unwritten code or met with some grumbling. Best to not even put yourself in that situation. The Blues would know if Arizona plucked a guy they were looking at.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

But B.Army would know who the Blues maybe be targeting for later rounds, and could easily take a guy he likes in the 5th round. That could be viewed as breaking an unwritten code or met with some grumbling. Best to not even put yourself in that situation. The Blues would know if Arizona plucked a guy they were looking at.

Blues made a deal with Bill Armstrong, who had two years left on his deal, that he can’t be involved with Arizona’s draft. Army: “All the work that he has done is information for the St. Louis Blues, so he won’t be able to assist in any draft selections for Arizona this year.”

 

[Stlblue50]

But B.Army would know who the Blues maybe be targeting for later rounds, and could easily take a guy he likes in the 5th round. That could be viewed as breaking an unwritten code or met with some grumbling. Best to not even put yourself in that situation. The Blues would know if Arizona plucked a guy they were looking at.

You would think Bill would have some loyalty to the Blues after being in the organization for 10+ years.

That being said, why couldn’t have they agreed to hire him but not officially start until right after the draft or just wait because it’s only 2 weeks away.

 

[BlueDream]

You would think Bill would have some loyalty to the Blues after being in the organization for 10+ years.

That being said, why couldn’t have they agreed to hire him but not officially start until right after the draft or just wait because it’s only 2 weeks away.

Because there are other GM duties besides just the draft... free agency literally starts like 2 days after the draft.

They need someone to negotiate contracts with players and trades with GMs. Asking them to wait to hire a GM is crazy talk.

 

[Celtic Note]

Because there are other GM duties besides just the draft... free agency literally starts like 2 days after the draft.

They need someone to negotiate contracts with players and trades with GMs. Asking them to wait to hire a GM is crazy talk.

Plus, he can make trades before and during the draft. He just can be involved in player selection.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

You would think Bill would have some loyalty to the Blues after being in the organization for 10+ years.

That being said, why couldn’t have they agreed to hire him but not officially start until right after the draft or just wait because it’s only 2 weeks away.

What about this suggests a lack of loyalty to you? It’s a huge opportunity for him, and sounds like he has the full support of the Blues organization who certainly were asked for permission to contact him.