Utah Hockey Club

The NHL has suspended former Arizona Coyotes general manager and president of hockey operations John Chayka through 2021 for conduct detrimental to the league, according to Scott Burnside of The Athletic.

Chayka resigned from the Coyotes in July, just before the NHL's bubble playoffs began, despite having three years remaining on his contract.

"I love our players, coaches, staff and fans and I very much wish I could be with the team in Edmonton. Sadly, the situation created by ownership made that an impossibility," Chakya said in a statement at the time. "That's all I intend to say on this matter for now. A fuller, more detailed explanation may be necessary in the near future."

The Coyotes, who had signed him to an extension in November 2019, were not pleased, releasing a statement of their own:

"John Chayka has quit as the General Manager and President of Hockey Operations of the Arizona Coyotes. The Club is disappointed in his actions and his timing as the Coyotes prepare to enter the NHL's hub city of Edmonton, where the team will begin post-season play for the first time since 2012. Chayka has chosen to quit on a strong and competitive team, a dedicated staff, and the Arizona Coyotes fans, the greatest fans in the NHL."

Burnside reported that "there was plenty of bad blood on both sides and it's believed Chayka was angling for another NHL job at the time of his quitting." With Monday's announcement from the NHL, it would appear the league has taken Arizona's side in the dispute.

As for Chayka's reputation going forward, Burnside noted that he's "considered a bright, forward-thinking executive who's a strong proponent of advanced statistics and the use of analytics in building a team," though he added that Chayka leaving right before the playoffs "will serve as a significant red flag to any NHL team looking to bring him aboard."

The 31-year-old was hired as the team's general manager in 2016 at the age of 26. The Coyotes went 131-147-38 under his watch, making the playoffs just once.

Previously he was the co-founder of an analytics firm, Stathletes Inc.

The Arizona Coyotes announced the club has renounced the rights to draft pick Mitchell Miller for bullying a Black, developmentally disabled classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, in 2016.

Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez provided a statement on the decision:

"We have decided to renounce the rights to Mitchell Miller, effective immediately. Prior to selecting Mitchell in the NHL Draft, we were aware that a bullying incident took place in 2016. We do not condone this type of behavior but embraced this as a teachable moment to work with Mitchell to make him accountable for his actions and provide him with an opportunity to be a leader on anti-bullying and anti-racism efforts. We have learned more about the entire matter, and more importantly, the impact it has had on Isaiah and the Meyer-Crothers family.

"What we learned does not align with the core values and vision for our organization and leads to our decision to renounce our draft rights. On behalf of the Arizona Coyotes ownership and our entire organization, I would like to apologize to Isaiah and the Meyer-Crothers family. We are building a model franchise on and off the ice and will do the right thing for Isaiah and the Meyer-Crothers family, our fans and our partners. Mr. Miller is now a free agent and can pursue his dream of becoming an NHL player elsewhere."

In 2016, Miller was convicted in juvenile court of abusing Meyer-Crothers along with another student. They were in eighth grade at the time.

Meyer-Crothers told Craig Harris and Craig Romero of the Arizona Republic that Miller and the other student called him racial epithets and bullied him in other ways. The two boys also tricked Meyer-Crothers into licking a lollipop that had been placed in a urinal. A video recording also captured the two boys punching Meyer-Crothers, and his mother Joni Meyer-Crothers said the Miller smashed her son's head into a brick wall.

According to Joni Meyer-Crothers, Miller never apologized personally to Isaiah for his actions, though he did write a court-mandated apology letter. He also sent a letter acknowledging his mistake to NHL teams ahead of the draft.

In her own letter published by The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, Joni Meyer-Crothers criticized the Coyotes for drafting her son's tormenter:

"The bully incident that continued over years has damaged our son mentally significantly and your organization is more concerned about Mitchell and your hockey success. In my opinion, that is being part of the problem. There is a victim out there that was and still at the hands of your 111th pick."

Joni Meyer-Crothers also said the family was never contacted by Arizona or any other NHL team to obtain more information about Miller.

The Coyotes, who took Miller in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, initially stood by their selection.

"When we first learned of Mitchell’s story, it would have been easy for us to dismiss him—many teams did," the club statement read. "Instead, we felt it was our responsibility to be a part of the solution in a real way—not just saying and doing the right things ourselves but ensuring that others are too."

Arizona Coyotes fourth-round draft pick Mitchell Miller admitted to bullying a Black, developmentally disabled classmate four years ago in juvenile court, according to Craig Harris and Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic.

The classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, said Miller repeatedly called him "brownie" and used the "N-word" to refer to him. On one occasion, Miller and another student wiped a candy push pop in a bathroom urinal and tricked Meyer-Crothers into licking it.

The two boys were captured on video punching Meyer-Crothers after giving him the candy. Meyer-Crothers' mother Joni said Miller smashed her son's head into a brick wall.

Miller and the other boy pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge and were sentenced to 25 hours of community service plus a court-ordered apology, but the family said Miller never personally apologized. The Coyotes provided Harris and Romero with a copy of a letter Miller told the team he gave to Meyer-Crothers' family but they said they never received it.

The 18-year-old told NHL teams about his behavior and assault charge ahead of the draft.

"Mitchell sent a letter to every NHL team acknowledging what happened and apologizing for his behavior," Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong explained. "Mitchell made a huge mistake, but we are providing him with a second chance to prove himself. We hope that he uses his platform moving forward to raise awareness about bullying and to discourage this type of behavior."

Team president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez, who was recently named to the NHL's Executive Inclusion Council, explained why the team is sticking by the draft pick in a statement:

"When we first learned of Mitchell's story, it would have been easy for us to dismiss him—many teams did. Instead, we felt it was our responsibility to be a part of the solution in a real way—not just saying and doing the right things ourselves but ensuring that others are too.

"Given our priorities on diversity and inclusion, we believe that we are in the best position to guide Mitchell into becoming a leader for this cause and preventing bullying and racism now and in the future.  As an organization, we have made our expectations very clear to him. We are willing to work with Mitchell and put in the time, effort, and energy and provide him with the necessary resources and platform to confront bullying and racism."

Meyer-Crothers hasn't been able to move past the incident and his mother said the Coyotes never contacted the family for more information ahead of the draft.

"It hurt my heart to be honest," he said. "It's stupid that [the Coyotes] didn't go back and look what happened in the past, but I can't do anything about it."

Miller apologized for his actions in a statement through the Coyotes Friday:

"I am extremely sorry about the bullying incident that occurred in 2016 while I was in eighth grade. I was young, immature and feel terrible about my actions. At the time, I did not understand the gravity of my actions and how they can affect other people. I have issued an apology to the family for my behavior, completed cultural diversity and sensitivity training and volunteered within my community with organizations such as Little Miracles."

Miller was the Coyotes' top pick in the 2020 draft after going the first three rounds without a selection.

The defenseman from Sylvania, Ohio spent last season playing for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL and is currently enrolled at the University of North Dakota. He also spent time with the under-19 United States national team.

The 2020 NHL offseason is now in full swing after free agency kicked off Friday following the draft earlier this week, and the trade winds continue to blow as well.

Several deals have already been made since the start of October. Devan Dubnyk, Max Domi, Josh Anderson, Matt Murray and Paul Stastny are among the high-profile players heading to new teams ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, with others likely to join the list in the coming weeks.

Let's check out some of the latest rumors and speculation about the trade market from around the NHL as front offices attempt to build a roster capable of taking down the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

           

Oliver Ekman-Larsson Trade Deadline Passes

Ekman-Larsson is one of the Arizona Coyotes' cornerstones. He's the team captain and ranks 15th in the NHL among defensemen with 353 points (124 goals and 229 assists) since he became a full-time player in 2011-12, per QuantHockey.

His future with the organization has come into question, though. The Coyotes have less than $400,000 in cap space, and the hit on his eight-year, $66 million contract is $8.25 million, according to CapFriendly.

Chris Johnston and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported Ekman-Larsson, whose deal includes a no-movement clause, wanted a resolution in trade talks before Friday amid interest from the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.

"Obviously, when you're painted in the corner and you have two teams to choose from, they're not going to maybe give you their best hand," Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong told reporters.

While the deadline has passed, it'll be intriguing to see whether the trade talks resurface at any point during the offseason. The Coyotes are one player short of a full 20-man roster and don't even have enough space for a league-minimum signing ($700,000), so something has to give.

Ekman-Larsson would represent a significant upgrade, especially on the power play, for the Canucks, Bruins or pretty much any other interested team.

                     

Philadelphia Flyers Most "Engaged" on Patrik Laine

Laine is one of the NHL's most lethal goal scorers, finding the net 138 times over the past four seasons, including 28 goals during the 2019-20 campaign. Add in that he's just 22, and it's been a surprise to see his name pop up in the rumor mill over the past few months.

TSN's Frank Seravalli reported the Flyers were the team most "engaged" in discussions with the Winnipeg Jets, but he noted the talks have "cooled" as of late.

Philadelphia is led by one of the league's best top forward lines in Sean Couturier, Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux, but it could use some more firepower alongside Travis Konecny on the second line. Laine would be an ideal fit for that role.

The Finnish winger is a liability defensively, which could explain why there isn't a more widespread push to acquire him, but players with his scoring ability are limited. Winnipeg should eventually able to find a trade partner if he remains available throughout the offseason.

             

Toronto Maple Leafs Set To Move Andreas Johnsson?

The Leafs have been busy during the early stages of free agency, adding winger Wayne Simmonds and defenseman T.J. Brodie after previously re-signing center Jason Spezza.

Although the moves have helped add further depth to the roster following a disappointing first-round playoff exit, they've also moved Toronto closer to the salary cap. 

A Johnsson trade could be a necessary response to give the team more flexibility. Jeff Veillette of the Faceoff Circle expects the 25-year-old Swedish winger will "almost definitely be on the move soon," while James Mirtle of The Athletic also mentioned it as a possibility amid the Leafs' cap crunch.

Johnsson is a solid middle-six forward. He recorded 43 points (20 goals and 23 assists) in 73 games during the 2018-19 campaign, but his numbers dipped a bit (21 points in 43 games) last season.

He could flourish on a team with less offensive talent than Toronto, which would give him a better chance to earn playing time in the top six and on the power play.

The Boston Bruins are one of the most intriguing teams in this NHL offseason. 

After drafting Mason Lohrei, Trevor Kuntar, Mason Langenbrunner, and Riley Duran before trading their final pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins can turn their attention to the multitude of crucial contract negotiations that lie in front of them as the free-agency period opens Friday.

The Bruins defense is at risk of being cleared, with Torey Krug the central focus as he moves to the market for the first time in his eight years on the ice.

The 29-year-old isn't the only blueliner who will shop around in free agency, with Zdeno Chara and Matt Grzelcyk also in need of new contracts. Up front, Jake DeBrusk and Joakim Nordstrom are also trying to line up their futures this weekend.

With $14.4 million to spend as of Thursday night, here's what the Bruins are looking at heading into this offseason.

         

Can the B's Be Successful at OEL's Deadline?

Friday is doubly important on the Bruins' offseason calendar. 

The team is reportedly among those pursuing Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and the 29-year-old has given his potential suitors—including Boston and Vancouver, per The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa—a deadline of Friday to submit their offers.

The former sixth-round pick is heading into his 11th season in the league and would be a huge get for a Boston squad that is about to be seriously lacking at the blue line. 

Ekman-Larsson brings a contract that pays out $8.25 million in each of the seven years that remain.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Chris Johnston reported that the Coyotes were more intrigued by what Boston's prospect system could offer compared to Vancouver's.

However, TSN's Darren Dreger noted Thursday that the Bruins "don't like the asking price" on the left-shot defenseman, who posted nine goals and 21 assists with 65 blocks and 129 hits before Arizona fell in the first round of the playoffs. 

The addition of a contract as hefty as Ekman-Larsson's depends quite a bit on what happens to Torey Krug.

        

And What Will Happen to Torey Krug?

Krug is entering the market fresh off of a four-year contract that dealt out $5.3 million each year. But after several short-term deals in Boston, he has been vocal about his disinterest in a hometown discount, which is really all that the Bruins have offered.

The 29-year-old finished in the top tier of defensemen this season as he tacked on to his career total of 67 goals and 270 assists, and in a market that has signed players like Jacob Trouba to deals worth $8 million per year, he knows what's out there for him. 

"I've bet on myself," Krug said in September (h/t CBS Sports). "I've taken shorter-term deals, less amount of money my whole career now. This is my time in terms of my value at its peak. I have the ability; I'm in a position now where I need to make the most of it." 

Torey Krug to the Panthers? #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/PiKIRwFkiu

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) October 8, 2020

Per TSN's Frank Seravalli, the Bruins reached out with a six-year deal with a $6.5 million payout every year at the end of September. Boston general manager Don Sweeney gave an update on the situation in a press conference Monday.

"We haven't had any progress as far as Torey," he said, per NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin, before noting that they will keep the door open for the defender if he's not able to find what he's looking for in the free-agent market. 

           

At Least There's Tuukka Rask

Tuukka Rask may have left the NHL bubble, but the goaltender has no intention of departing Boston this offseason. 

Seravalli reported last week that Sweeney had "initiated conversations with teams about Rask's market value," but the Bruins GM put those rumors to bed on Monday (h/t 98.5 The Sports Hub). 

"As a matter of fact, our staff has communicated with Tuukka and, as I said before, he remains a big part of our roster planning going forward," Sweeney said before refusing to detail the no-trade clause in Rask's contract. "I think by my knowledge, he was second in the Vezina balloting and we feel very, very comfortable with where our goaltending is at. And I think you’re going to need it." 

In an interview with the Boston Herald, the 13-year Bruin, who finished 2019-20 with a 26-8-6 record, a 2.12 goals-against average, and .929 save percentage, said he wants to stay in Boston for the rest of his career: 

"I don't want to play for anybody else but the Bruins. I don't see any reason for that. I've been here for a long time and the organization's been so great for me. We've built our home in Boston and we call this home. So, yeah, I don't want to play for anybody else. I think where my head's at is focusing on next year and then hopefully a couple of more years after that and then pass the torch for the next guy after that. I want to help the organization as much as I can."

With the future of their defense in question this offseason, at least the B's will be strong in net, with Jaroslav Halak—who led the Bruins through the playoffs after Rask left the bubble—sharing netminding duties with the Finn. 

The NHL draft has come and gone, but the free-agency period opens Friday, which means the trade conversations won't be stopping any time soon. 

This week saw a number of big names added to the rumor mill, with former New York Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist reportedly heading to the Washington Capitals, and Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask saying he's not interested in finishing his NHL career anywhere other than Beantown, per Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald.

Elsewhere, teams have expressed interest in Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine, while the Bruins and Vancouver Canucks are reportedly battling it out with the Arizona Coyotes for Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Away from the spotlight, the Chicago Blackhawks are reportedly shopping two-time Stanley Cup champion Brandon Saad.

Here's a rundown of some of the latest NHL rumors.

               

Patrik Laine's Complicated Future

Anyone in the market for Laine should get a strong return on their investment right away. The winger has scored 138 goals—including 52 on the power play—and collected 247 points through four seasons with the Jets.

However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman warned on Tuesday that while "a lot of teams are interested," the implications of what will hold up in a trade offer and how to keep him around after his contract expires make the deal "complicated." 

The 22-year-old is owed $6.75 million as he finishes out the last year of his contract, whether it is in Winnipeg or elsewhere. 

TSN's Frank Seravalli reported that the Philadelphia Flyers were the team most interested in Laine and would offer a defender to fill holes on a Winnipeg blue line that dropped Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers last offseason.

After re-signing Dylan DeMelo to a four-year deal this week, a defender from Philadelphia would bolster the backline, especially after the potential loss of Laine up front. 

Seravalli also reported that the Flyers are not interested in Alex Pietrangelo, who has been one of the most coveted free agents so far, which means the money saved by the retirement of Matt Niskanen can be put toward other priorities.

           

Arizona's Relaxed Approach to OEL Interest

Coyotes defenseman Ekman-Larsson has a no-movement clause in his eight-year contract that carries an $8.25 million payout annually, but he has opened himself up to a trade to either Boston or Vancouver on the condition that a decision is made by Friday afternoon, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.  

But Arizona general manager Bill Armstrong told the @TheRink podcast the Coyotes aren't pushing the issue:

"When you deal with clubs on any player, they're not maybe as high as offers as you'd like to come back or assets that you'd like to gain, so there's a patience. Our ownership has done a great job just saying, 'Hey, listen, we're going to hold the [NHL] salary cap where it is and we're not going to panic here, you're going to go in there and do your work.'"

The team is reportedly more interested in Boston's prospect market, but TSN's Darren Dreger noted Thursday that the Bruins "don't like the asking price" for the 29-year-old. That leaves Vancouver, which has begun the process of clearing house and making room within the salary cap by preparing to part ways with Tyler Toffoli and Troy Stecher. 

With Boston on the verge of losing a mainstay blueliner in Torey Krug and Vancouver building its future around Quinn Hughes, Ekman-Larsson is a benefit to both. 

                

Brandon Saad's Quiet Entry into the Market

With a fixed ceiling on the salary cap this season, players who have shorter contracts are more in demand this offseason.

This new development makes Blackhawks winger Saad, who won the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2013 and 2015, a strong candidate for a trade. And according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the Bruins and the Colorado Avalanche are among the teams interested in adding a secondary scorer.

The 27-year-old ended the year with 21 goals and 12 assists through 58 games before posting five points by way of two goals and three helpers in nine postseason outings. He is owed $6 million in the last year of his contract, and the Avalanche will likely have around have $11 million in cap space, according to The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark.

Colorado has the room to add Saad for at least a season, since it was announced that netminder Corey Crawford, who also made $6 million, will hit the free-agent market alongside a number of other veteran goaltenders. 

The Arizona Coyotes are reportedly shopping the rights to Taylor Hall, according to Darren Dreger of TSN.

Hall is set to become an unrestricted free agent, but another team could acquire negotiating rights in an effort to sign the player before he hits the open market Friday.

Arizona brought in the 2018 Hart Trophy winner in a December trade with the New Jersey Devils, giving up three prospects and two draft picks in exchange for the player. He appeared in 65 games between the two locations in 2019-20, totaling 16 goals and 36 assists.

The 28-year-old was able to help the Coyotes advance to the first round of the playoffs this season after beating the Nashville Predators in the qualifying round. However, they suffered a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in that series. Hall had just two points in those five games, finishing minus-four in plus-minus.

Craig Morgan of AZ Coyotes Insider reported it's "highly unlikely" the left wing returns to the team next season. General manager Bill Armstrong has already notified teams he would trade the player's rights, which could yield a mid-round pick.

Arizona isn't scheduled to draft until the fourth round this year and doesn't have a first-round pick in 2021, which could create some more urgency to add draft capital.

Meanwhile, an interested team could get a leg up on signing one of the most intriguing players set to hit the open market.

Hall is only two years removed from an outstanding campaign in which he had 93 points in 76 games and was considered one of the top offensive players in the league. He finished the year tied for ninth in the NHL in point shares, per Hockey Reference.

He also hasn't had much help around him at any point during his career, participating in just one playoff series in his first nine years in the NHL before this season.

According to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post, Hall is reportedly considering a one-year deal with a Stanley Cup contender this season before trying to get a longer deal in 2021. The Avalanche also considered trading for him earlier this year and could be a top option to land him this time around.

On the heels of the Tampa Bay Lightning beating the Dallas Stars in six games to win the 2020 Stanley Cup, the NHL offseason has officially begun, meaning focus has shifted toward free agency, the draft and the trade market.

Multiple trades have already been made, but the potential is present for more, as several significant names are believed to be available for the right price.

Considering the fact that the free-agent market is relatively weak outside of the top few players, trades may be the best way for teams to improve their roster this offseason, especially when it comes to fortifying the blue line.

Here is a rundown of the latest rumors regarding three big-name defensemen who could possibly be on the move.

Oliver Ekman-Larrson

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has spent his entire 10-year NHL career with the Arizona Coyotes, but that tenure could soon come to an end.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Coyotes have engaged in trade talks with the Edmonton Oilers centered on Ekman-Larsson. Dreger called the talks preliminary, but also categorized Edmonton's interest as "serious."

Dreger also noted that the Boston Bruins are interested in OEL, which makes sense due to the fact that Boston may lose defenseman Torey Krug in free agency.

Ultimately, the decision lays in Ekman-Larsson's hand since he possesses a full no-movement clause in his contract, which runs through the 2026-27 season.

Defense has long been an issue for the Oilers, and while Ekman-Larsson will never be confused with a shutdown defender, he could be a good fit on the team due to his ability to jump into the play offensively, which would allow him to link up well with superstar forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Ekman-Larsson has reached the 40-point mark five times during his career. He has also scored 20 or more goals twice and 12 or more goals on seven occasions.

Last season, he finished with nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points in 66 games. He also finished with a minus-3 rating, which was his best mark since 2012-13.

Trading the 29-year-old Ekman-Larsson would leave the Coyotes with a big hole in their defense corps, but it would also open up considerable cap space for a team that could undergo some big changes this offseason with forward Taylor Hall likely to leave in free agency.

Shayne Gostisbehere

Another offensive-minded defenseman who could potentially be on the move this offseason is Shayne Gostisbehere of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that the Flyers have made Gostisbehere available for trade and "shown a serious willingness" to move him.

The 27-year-old rearguard is coming off his worst NHL season by far, as he finished with just 12 points in 42 games to go along with a minus-rating. He has seemingly fallen out of favor in Philly, but there is some hope that another team could salvage him.

Entering the 2019-20 season, Gostisbehere had posted at least 37 points in four straight seasons, including a career-high 65 in 2017-18. He also reached double-digit goals twice, including a career-high 17 in 2015-16.

It wasn't long ago that Gostisbehere was considered one of the premier offensive defensemen in the NHL, so perhaps it is possible for him to return to that status in new surroundings.

Gostisbehere is signed for three more seasons at $4.5 million per year, so his contract isn't so bloated or lengthy that it would necessarily scare a team off. Gostisbehere's terrible performance last season would likely be the greatest deterrent in any deal.

Ivan Provorov is developing into a bona fide No. 1 defenseman in Philly, but the Flyers are fairly short on the blue line otherwise, which is one fact that could cause them to pull Gostisbehere off the market provided they are unable to improve the defense corps elsewhere.

Given how poorly he played in 2019-20, however, Gostisbehere may be the ideal buy-low candidate for any team looking to add some offensive punch to the back end.

Torey Krug

Krug is set to become a free agent, but that doesn't mean he can't be a factor on the trade market as well.

According to TSN's Frank Seravalli, some teams have expressed "significant interest" in trading for Krug's negotiating rights.

The Bruins have continued to have talks with Krug, but if the team ultimately decides that it is unable to re-sign him, then trading his rights could be the best possible move, as it would allow Boston to recoup a draft pick.

Trading for a player's rights is a risky move at times, but it allows a team to exclusively negotiate with the player until free agency starts and also allows the team to sign the player to an eight-year contract, which gives it a leg up on the competition.

Krug has been one of the NHL's most consistent defensemen over the past seven seasons, as he has posted 39 or more points in each of those campaigns and rarely missed games.

His performance in 2019-20 was especially impressive, as he finished with 49 points in just 61 games. That came on the heels of a career-high 14 goals and 59 points in 2017-18 and then 18 points in 24 playoff games in 2018-19.

Krug has been a huge contributor to Boston's success in recent years and losing him would be a major blow to the Bruins' blue line, but it is becoming increasingly likely that Krug is on the way out.

If that proves to be true, trading his rights would at least give the Bruins something to show for his departure, which doesn't often happen when a player leaves via free agency.

The NHL announced Wednesday it has stripped the Arizona Coyotes of a second-round pick in the 2020 draft and a first-rounder in 2021 for violating the league's combine testing policy.

Commissioner Gary Bettman staged a hearing this month, during which Coyotes representatives admitted to performing physical tests on draft prospects prior to the combine.

The NHL postponed the scouting combine indefinitely in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TSN's Darren Dreger reported in January the NHL was looking into whether the Coyotes performed physical testing of players from the CHL.

"While the Combine Testing Policy Memoranda reference a fine of 'no less than $250,000 for each violation' of the Policy, I exercise my discretion to impose the aforementioned discipline—which I consider to be more appropriate given the specific circumstances of this case," Bettman said in a statement.

The Coyotes sent their 2020 first-rounder to the New Jersey Devils as part of the trade for Taylor Hall last December. Arizona also dealt its third-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche for Carl Soderberg in June 2019.

With Wednesday's ruling, the team won't be on the clock until the fourth round of this year's draft, which will be held virtually October 9-10.

The Coyotes could be potentially out until the third round next year as well. Their first- and second-rounders would go to the Devils if Hall re-signs this offseason.

The timing couldn't be much worse, either, since Arizona is looking for a new general manager after John Chayka resigned in July. Some will now question whether Chayka's departure was merely a coincidence of a case of the former GM getting out before the hammer fell.

And John Chayka left (or quit according to Coyotes release) the organization, so the new GM will begin without a 1st round pick this year, next year or a 2nd rounder this year. Tough way to start.
How much of this is on Chayka? GM had to know about the testing, did he not? https://t.co/6qN5aWXjiR

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) August 26, 2020

So John Chayka’s Coyotes got caught breaking NHL draft testing rules then he quit as GM before the team got handed a huge penalty?

— Satchel Price (@SatchelPrice) August 26, 2020

Regardless, his replacement will now be left to pick up the pieces.

The Coyotes reached the playoffs for the first time since 2012 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. That would be a cause for optimism in most circumstances.

Instead, Arizona has to worry about whether it can re-sign Hall, identify a new GM and focus on how to continue looking toward the future without a slew of draft picks in 2020 and 2021.

It's been one week since the Arizona Coyotes announced that John Chayka had stepped down as their general manager and president of hockey operations. In recent days, more details have emerged about what caused the split just as the team was getting ready to return to action in the NHL's bubble.

According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Chayka recently met with a member of New Jersey Devils ownership after he had sought permission from Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo to do so "under the premise that it wasn't a job interview." Instead, it was for Chayka to "build relationships with owners in hockey" and "get market knowledge."

However, it led to Chayka expressing interest in leaving for New Jersey in a role originally described to be higher than GM, but Meruelo didn't want to let Chayka out of his contract, leading to their relationship becoming "strained and acrimonious," according to Wyshynski.

"Sources say things boiled over between Chayka and the Coyotes when it became clear that the job he wanted to take was rooted in hockey operations, making it much more of a lateral move than previously indicated," Wyshynski wrote, also noting that Meruelo felt "lied to" and "betrayed."

That's how the Coyotes ended up in this situation, with former assistant general manager Steve Sullivan taking over as interim GM as the team gets set to play the first game of their qualifying-round series against the Nashville Predators on Sunday. Meanwhile, Arizona will also have to see if it can work out a deal with Taylor Hall, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, down the line.

Will Sullivan be the Coyotes' GM for the long term? What moves will they consider in the offseason? Those questions likely won't be addressed until after Arizona's season comes to an end.

But as recently as the week leading up to the Coyotes' announcement of Chayka's resignation, they were still trying to have him remain with the team, per Wyshynski: "According to a source with knowledge of the call, [CEO Xavier] Gutierrez expressed the team's commitment to its general manager and what was expected of him, and then asked Chayka to reciprocate that commitment clearly, in a 'yes or no' fashion. He refused to do so."

Meanwhile, it's unclear how the Devils' reported pursuit of Chayka would have affected their front-office structure. In early July, they removed the interim tag from Tom Fitzgerald's title to make him their permanent general manager.

That answer may never materialize, as Wyshynski previously reported that the opportunity that piqued Chayka's interest "may no longer be available to him."