Confirmed with Link: Coyotes forfeit 2020 2nd round pick and a 2021 1st round pick for violating league’s combine testing

[Jakey53]

Heads need to roll. Then we can move on.

Two heads have already rolled out of town.

 

[Mosby]

Remember when they bumped this after the draft lotto? So had we won Lafreniere, the NHL was totally prepared to strip us of that pick. That’s f***ed.

 

[Syckle78]

How long did the current ownership have control of the team when this all went down?

 

[XX]

How long did the current ownership have control of the team when this all went down?

Not long. Start of the 19-20 season.

 

[TheLegend]

Think I might shrink this down and add it to my avatar...

 

[Syckle78]

Not long. Start of the 19-20 season.

All the more reason this is excessive bullshit. I really don't understand the NHLs logic here considering the circumstance with the ownership transitioning in and the guy that had the most hockey ops power walking away escaping punishment.

 

[Jamieh]

All the more reason this is excessive bullshit. I really don't understand the NHLs logic here considering the circumstance with the ownership transitioning in and the guy that had the most hockey ops power walking away escaping punishment.

The Coyotes cheated, the Coyotes got sanctioned. Stop trying to blame anyone else.

 

[Sinurgy]

I'm the same, and I was trying to figure out why I'm such a sucker...and I think I figured it out.

I've been through this before.

I survived the multiple probations of the Florida Gators in 85,86, and 90, Charley Pell and Galen Hall era. Had to vacate/not claim our first and second SEC titles (which we'd never won before then)....it sucked. And we were threatened with the SMU-style death penalty when the basketball team cheated too....and out of all that came Steve Spurrier and the (annoyingly, to some) dominant teams of the 90s. Plus the Urban Meyer/Tim Tebow years and the Billy Donovan/B2B title years...

Will that happen with the Coyotes? Probably not. But it's why I'll just shrug at those who leave.

As a Husker fan, I very much miss the 90's.

 

[Byron Bitz]

The Coyotes cheated, the Coyotes got sanctioned. Stop trying to blame anyone else.

No, the punishment is way too severe, no way 1st round picks should be involved, that pick could end up in the top 5. Hit those involved with hefty fines and if you have to take picks then take a second and a third.

 

[RemoAZ]

So you're telling me one of the worst organizations in the league with probably the worst group of prospects CHEATED to get there? How f***ing incompetent do you have to be to accomplish that?

 

[BUX7PHX]

I agree, but do we know the whole story. We can piss and moan all we want but it will not change a damn thing. Turn the page and forget about it.

But if the entire story is kept under wraps, then it begs the question of what was actually done.

Here is what I can't get around:

This is someone who started their own businesses through analysis of individuals in hockey. At some point, this has to cover prospects young and up to the age of 20, along with current NHL players. I understand his background is not necessarily in scouting, but would he not be aware of what can and can not be done, considering teams reached out to Stathletes for assistance? That is something that is odd, but I could see him not knowing the ins and outs of the scouting world.

A bigger question is that as all of this was being investigated, this ownership group presumed to be from NJ, were still interested in him. Why would any team interview someone who would then be subject to scrutiny on sketchy practices going forward.

Something does not make sense.

 

[Canis Latrans]

On the bright side, we just need to dig up some dirt on the other 30 franchises before mid-October so they can all lose their equivalent picks in the next two drafts so we wind-up picking in the exact same spot as we would have with the pick. Just throw away the 7th round in essence. Then the following year, the league can decide to punish Seattle for that god-awful name they chose.

 

[Heldig]

So basically there is no reason to follow this team for the next, say 4 years? They are completely ****ed now.

 

[Jamieh]

No, the punishment is way too severe, no way 1st round picks should be involved, that pick could end up in the top 5. Hit those involved with hefty fines and if you have to take picks then take a second and a third.

2nds and 3rds are the punishment you get for mentioning someone else's player or filing an improper contract. The League went easy by leaving out the monetary punishment. The NHL has always been hard on cheaters.

 

[Canis Latrans]

I don't really see how there can be no specifics released on what the Coyotes did to break the rules. It's very vague, which makes one think it's in a gray area, which in turn makes on think the rules need to be rewritten to clearly address that issue. If it's a clear violation, then why is it an issue to release what aspect of the rules was broken. Why would this all need to be kept under wraps?

As it stands now, it sure doesn't sound like an egregious violation of the rules, yet the penalty sounds incredibly harsh. I'm sure Meruelo is displeased as this just adds to perception that the league has been taking advantage of him after he's flown in to save one of their biggest financial issues. They moved his future team to the Central division just prior to him getting to have a say in things, and then punish him so severely for not having the place cleaned up the instant he walked in.

I know it says the punishment is not appealable, but I would demand it anyway as they've already shown they aren't going to follow the letter of the law, so why can't this be given the same treatment.

And finally, I have to think Meruelo is going to have a lot to say to Bettman about the involvement of the Devils with his GM.

 

[Canis Latrans]

2nds and 3rds are the punishment you get for mentioning someone else's player or filing an improper contract. The League went easy by leaving out the monetary punishment. The NHL has always been hard on cheaters.

The league talks out of both sides of its mouth, just look at the reffing and suspensions for exhibits A & B.

 

[RemoAZ]

And finally, I have to think Meruelo is going to have a lot to say to Bettman about the involvement of the Devils with his GM.

I think this is why he isn't saying anything. He's going to wait to see what Bettman rules on that first.

 

[Neighborhood Coyote]

I think this is why he isn't saying anything. He's going to wait to see what Bettman rules on that first.

I'd like to dream that he already knows Bettman is gonna get the Yotes something back for that shady business so the original punishment isn't so severe.

But then there is reality where NJ gets to do whatever they want and the Yotes get pooped on again.

 

[RABBIT]

I’m excited but not excited for this offseason. This team just seems to be consistently f***ed

 

[Telos]

I just have to say, even as a fan of a rival team, the Coyotes did not deserve a punishment that harsh. Sure, it was a crazy thing to do, but no one involved in the actions is being punished here, only everyone else who knew nothing about them. The fine is meh, but losing the 1st and the 2nd is a savage beating to fans and players. You have my sincere condolences, I hope there is some sort of appeal, at least for next year's 1st...

P.S. f*** Chayka. I hope he is banished from the game.

 

[TheLegend]

Was back rereading Craig Morgan's article and saw this quote from Bettman in why he decided on taking draft picks away versus a monetary fine.

“While I conclude that certain club personnel acted in a grossly negligent manner at best, which was conceded by the club, I ultimately conclude that the record does not establish — to a standard with which I am comfortable — that those individuals engaged in intentional wrongdoing, as opposed to grossly negligent behavior.”

So this wasn't an accident, or a lack of knowledge of the policy among the scouts. This was a deliberate and calculated attempt to exploit what might have been interpreted as grey areas of the policy.

 

[XX]

So this wasn't an accident, or a lack of knowledge of the policy among the scouts. This was a deliberate and calculated attempt to exploit what might have been interpreted as grey areas of the policy.

the record does not establish

 

[TheLegend]

the record does not establish

to a standard with which I am not comfortable.

 

[XX]

to a standard with which I am not comfortable.

It's to a standard with which I am comfortable. The 'not' isn't in there. You likely read too fast.

It reads as it not being intentional. The record does not meet Bettman's standard to prove intent. Proving intent is hard. Bettman is a lawyer.

The Coyotes likely took the equivalent of a plea deal to get this ruling.

 

[WrinkledPossum]

After some time thinking about this, it is horrible but our drafting record isn't great and we would likely be picking in the middle of the 1st next year.

If we're going off history what would have happened with these picks:

1. Some are excited about the pick, some hate it.

2. Most come around and get excited for the player.

3. Follow their junior stats, get more excited.

4. They turn 20, we want them to make the team out of camp.

5. They don't.

6. They make the team the following year. Show some flashes of greatness but underwhelm.

7. After 'not being a fit' they are traded away.

Maybe this is just saving us from ourselves? Still a horrible punishment for the franchise but idk about a death blow. Before this I thought the rebuild is very dependent on Hayton and Soderstrom, that's amplified now.