Arizona Coyotes GM Don Maloney: Career In Review
Don Maloney – Executive Vice President, General Manager & Alternate Governor
We all know Don Maloney, 55 as the GM who pulls rabbits out of hats by working trade deadline deals, with a limited budget in hopes of improving the Arizona Coyotes success. But, he also was a decent player with the N.Y. Rangers, Hartford Whalers, and N.Y. Islanders in his day. He scored 214 goals, and 564 points in 765 games. He also was productive in the playoffs, accumulating 22 goals, 35 assists in 94 games.
He was a 26th overall pick of the Rangers in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft. He performed admirably in the 1980 Stanley Cup Final with 7 G – 13 A – 20 Pts all as a rookie that year. He was the MVP of the 1984 All-Star Game as well.
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Don’s initial front office role was as Assistant GM of the N.Y. Islanders following his retirement as a player on 1-17-91. He also served as General Manager from 8-17-92 to 12-2-95.
Maloney served as the Rangers’ vice-president of player personnel and was also Assistant GM to Glen Sather from 1996 to 2007. His primary duties were to assist Sather in all player transactions and contract negotiations. This background served him well when the Arizona Coyotes named him to his current title of Executive V.P., General Manager and Alternate Governor.
In seven seasons in that role, Maloney has led the team to a respectable 267-202-71 record (.56 percent), with three trips to the playoffs to add to his resume.
The best season under Maloney’s leadership was the ’09-’10 season when the then Phoenix Coyotes went 50-25-7 for 107 points. That marked the first season the team had made the post-season since 2002. They set franchise records for most wins, home wins (29), points (107), and home winning streak with 10.
Maloney has drafted some outstanding prospects during his seven seasons as GM.
They include:
- Connor Murphy – Defenseman 20th overall pick in 2011
- Brandon Gormley – Defenseman 13th overall pick in 2010
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Defenseman sixth overall in 2009
- Mark Visentin – Goalie 27th overall pick in 2010
- Brandan Perlini – LW 12th overall pick in 2014
- Max Domi – LW 12th overall pick in 2013
- Henrik Samuelsson – C/RW 27th overall pick in 2012
- Mikkel Boedker – RW eighth overall pick in 2008
Over the past six seasons Maloney has not been shy in pulling the trigger with trades, making a total of 24. He also has added to the team’s talent with signing free agents. Just recently, he traded Keith Yandle, Antione Vermette, and Zbynek Michalek to add to his arsenal of draft picks and young prospects.
Among the prospects whom we may all be able to see next season will be: Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, and perhaps Christian Dvorak. Maloney has always been patient waiting on the prospects to develop so as not to rush them into the NHL, and see them fail, or lose confidence.
Sometimes I get impatient and wonder what in the world is Maloney doing? But, he has been limited to a strict budget over the four seasons that the team was run by the NHL, and squeezed out every ounce of copper out of every penny to keep the franchise above water. He and Dave Tippettt, and the coaching staff are now only concerned with turning around the past season and not only qualifying for playoffs, but winning it all…and if anyone can lead them to that goal, it’s Don Maloney.
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