Bill Armstrong just gave out three contract extensions which he said had to do with ensuring job stability amidst the Coyotes' constant relocation rumors.
The Arizona Coyotes recently signed both Director of Pro Scouting Alan Hepple and Amateur Scouting Ryan Jankowski to contract extensions and promoted David Ludwig to the role of Assistant General Manager.
These three events happened all at around the same time as each other and general manager Bill Armstrong had an explanation.
Hint, it has to do with the Coyotes’ arena situation.
“With the arena, there are a lot of rumors and a lot of noise that’s surrounding our organization,” Armstrong said. “For our employees sometimes if you can have stability and if they do a good job rewarding them, it really helps out.
“I’ve always felt in my previous jobs when the team I was with went through that, we were all geared about doing our jobs not do we still have a job and that was my main thought process in trying to create that stability with people in the organization that have helped us take a step and will continue to help us take even further steps to becoming a championship organization.”
Ever since the report came out stating Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith formally asked the NHL to initiate the expansion process and bring a team to Salt Lake City, there has been rampant relocation rumors regarding the Coyotes, some coming even without factual evidence.
Nonetheless though, hearing rumors of this magnitude come out has to worry people about their long term future with the organization, so Armstrong is making sure that is not a concern.
Sports is supposedly all about business, but these kinds of moments show the human side to it. Armstrong seems to care deeply about his fellow colleagues and is proving that not just by his words, but by his actions.
There was some good news that came out recently as an auction for state trust land the Coyotes applied for in north Phoenix will be posted on March 14 and is reportedly set to take place in around June.
Despite rumors coming out that would normally tear a team apart, the Coyotes are one pack and will always stick together.