[ad_1]
The search for a general manager was an introduction to the hockey community, national and local, for Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez.
Gutierrez found the people he spoke to, many whom he’s never met, supportive of his position, which he’s held for only a few months, and willing and open to talk shop with him.
“It was just this approach of ‘we want to see you be successful, we want to see you make a good decision,” Gutierrez said. “First and foremost, it was learning about this amazing hockey community, players, general managers, presidents, owners, and so that was great. Second, it was great to learn people’s different approaches. Whether they be style of play, whether it be how they build a hockey organization, what they emphasize.”
Before going with Bill Armstrong for the job, Gutierrez and owner Alex Meruelo not only spoke with multiple GM candidates, but executives from other teams and former NHL players.
Meruelo has been owner for more than a year, and with his family and Gutierrez leading the franchise, it’s been a learning experience for all involved. But Gutierrez said league commissioner Gary Bettman has been supportive from the day Meruelo took over as owner and he as president.
“I haven’t made any bones about the fact that I’m new to hockey, and that I still have a long way to go in terms of understanding the protocols of the league,” Gutierrez said. “I was very appreciative that it was very clear that they believe we’re incredibly strong and stable as an ownership.
“There’s a difference between instability and change, and there is no instability here,” he added. “We very strongly believe that this community and our partners, our fans, should have great confidence in our ownership group and the strength and stability of this organization.”
Gutierrez has made a number of public appearances and done interviews in which he’s had to answer questions about the business side of the Coyotes, inquiries about the team’s finances, layoffs and furloughs, turnover in the front office and the seemingly endless question of potential relocation from the Valley.
The attention, while keeping the team in the news of late, has been unwelcome for Gutierrez.
“It is disappointing that I feel there is a narrative that is not us,” Gutierrez said. “If you look at what we are about and what Alex in a very short amount of time committed hundreds of millions of dollars to this organization to buy it. He committed with respect to the (salary) cap the highest number in Coyotes history. He’s continued to be committed to spending additional capital. We are here very vocal about where we want to be in terms of Arizona.”
The changes continue within the organization. Five former front office members and scouts, all on the hockey side, have been let go since Armstrong took over as GM less than two weeks ago, and Gutierrez said there is new leadership in ticketing, corporate partnerships and sponsorships.
“Our intent is to grow our corporate partnership base and to be seen as a valley-wide partner,” he said.
Gutierrez seeks a collaborative relationship between ownership and the business side and the Armstrong-led hockey side, with Armstrong making hockey decisions.
“He communicates really well, he collaborates with myself and with ownership very well, and so this isn’t going to be done in a vacuum,” Gutierrez said of Armstrong. “And similarly, I’m going to have him be more engaged on the business side as well, and leverage his knowledge and his experience and his expertise to bring in more of a hockey component to the business side.”
Get in touch with Jose Romero at [email protected]. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.
[ad_2]
Source link