Arizona Coyotes: Tippett/Maloney Could Be Gone

By William Grigsby |

If Arizona Coyotes HC Tippett, GM Maloney Can’t Turn Things Around, They Could Be Gone

While both Tippett (who signed a five-year contract extension in June of 2013), and Maloney are signed to long term contracts, it was while the team was being operated by the NHL. IceArizona is the current ownership group, and they get to decide the fate of both Tippett and Maloney, should the need arise.

I’m not sure what parameters were agreed to when IceArizona took over, but the contracts were signed, and should be binding. The question which remains is, what happens if the Arizona Coyotes have another disastrous season, and fail to make the playoffs once again? Or, better yet if the two year lease agreement doesn’t get extended, and the rumors again begin to circulate that the team will be re-locating?

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It’s no secret that Head Coach Dave Tippett was not a happy camper last season. He’s definitely not accustomed to losing, especially at the level which his team lost in 2014-15. He decided to stay, but when there were rumors before his contract extension that he could be moving on to another team, another challenge, there was the possibility that his tenure here was over.

Don’t get me wrong, Tipp is an excellent coach as evidenced by his .589 winning percentage while coaching the Arizona Coyotes, and a .582 overall career winning percentage. He looked tormented struggling through last season’s debacle of a season, and I’m sure doesn’t want a repeat.

The problem is, he has not been given much of an upgrade in player personnel to compete much better than last season. Both Tippett and Maloney have been boosting (cheerleading mostly) that the team will improve this upcoming season.

I beg to differ…

Tippett has made lemonade out of lemons since he’s been here, and if he fails with the team he’s been given he may quit, or get fired. Maloney wouldn’t be far behind him, as when this happens it usually includes both the GM and Head Coach saying goodbye.

At this juncture it would be harder to take losing Tippett than losing Maloney. I’m aware he has worked some miracles with a very restrictive budget under less than ideal conditions. BUT, I think he’s stuck in that mode, and if the current ownership group told him to go and spend what he needs to better this team, I am doubtful he would do it.

Look how he handled the team being UNDER the salary cap basement limit. What did he do? He traded Sam Gagner to Philadelphia for Nicklas Grossmann, and Chris Pronger’s contract. REALLY? Is that his idea of USING the money he had under the salary cap? I know he must make any deal work under the salary cap, but at least get a player back! For Pronger’s $4.921 million cap hit, I’m sure they could have signed a useful player — say like a Cody Franson for instance.

The other factor which Maloney created was the $8.99 million owed to players NOT playing with the Arizona Coyotes. The Pronger deal has $4.921M, Yandle is still owed $2.625M, and the Ribeiro fiasco $1.444 until the 2019-20 season. This is all money towards the salary cap which could have been used to sign players who could help this team.

If Maloney, or the ownership group are thinking that they will have a good shot at drafting Auston Matthews should they finish poorly again, that is not much of a plan for improvement. Look how that ended when everyone was so encouraged that the Arizona Coyotes had a shot at Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. Dissipated like a fast moving dust storm in the desert.

In conclusion, I certainly don’t wish the Arizona Coyotes any bad misfortune, they experienced quite a bit last season. I also don’t want an excellent coach like Dave Tippett to leave. I wouldn’t cry too much if GM Don Maloney was let go, or quit. Some of his moves still have me scratching my head for their logical value or worth.

I give them this next season to at least show improvement, and so far every expert I’ve heard when asked about the fate of the Arizona Coyotes this upcoming season have not had them finishing much higher if at all, than last season.

When success eludes the GM and Head Coach, actions must be taken to improve the team’s fortunes.

It could mean both Tippett and Maloney may be looking elsewhere for NHL employment.

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