Coyotes announce more big changes

The Arizona Coyotes have announced that they’ve hired former NFL and NBA executive Steve Patterson as its President and CEO. The team also announced that GM John Chayka has also been promoted to President of Hockey Operations, a position left vacant after the team parted ways with Dave Tippett. Chayka, of course, remains the team’s GM in addition to his new responsibilities.

Patterson is most famous for having brought an NFL team to Houston, Texas and as the GM of the Houston Rockets from the NBA. He's a long-time Arizona resident and is excited at the opportunity ahead of him with the Coyotes. 

"I'm extremely honored to join the Arizona Coyotes organization," said Coyotes President and CEO Steve Patterson. "My wife and I loved living in the Valley of the Sun and we are so excited to return to Arizona. The Valley is a great hockey market with an incredibly loyal and passionate fan base. I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Barroway to create a successful franchise on and off the ice and I'm very excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead."

Barroway, of course, is new Coyotes owner Andrew Barroway, who has made sweeping changes to the franchise’s executive staff this offseason. What comes of these changes remains to be seen, but hopefully some fresh people and some fresh ideas can help reinvigorate the franchise and return them to respectability in the NHL’s Western Conference.