Bill Armstrong signs extension to remain GM of Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes have signed GM Bill Armstrong to a multi-year contract extension.
Details, including the length of the deal, were not disclosed by the club.
“For the past three years, Bill has done an excellent job restructuring our hockey operations department and rebuilding our hockey team,” Coyotes owner, chairman and governor Alex Meruelo said in a statement. “He has acquired elite talent through the draft, trades, and free agency, and has established a winning culture by adding a great coaching staff and other key hockey operations personnel.
Phase 2 has begun.
The #1 GM in sports, Bill Armstrong, agreed to a multi-year contract extension. We are building something here that is built to last. In GMBA we trust! pic.twitter.com/iUOhjXUUkQ
“I am confident that under his leadership, the Coyotes will soon become a perennial playoff team and we will continue to work towards our goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to the Valley.”
The 53-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ontario has served as GM since the 2020-21 season. Prior to joining the Coyotes, Armstrong worked as part of the St. Louis Blues’ scouting department from 2004-18, when he earned a promotion as an assistant GM in time for the 2018-19 season.
A former pro hockey player, Armstrong was known for his physical play while in the AHL. He had over 200 penalty minutes twice while throwing punches for Hershey and Providence. He was drafted 46th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers, but never played an NHL game.
The Coyotes have not qualified for the playoffs under Armstrong’s leadership, but the team has only made it to the postseason four times since the 2004-05 NHL lockout. The Coyotes should get a big boost this year after signing top prospect Logan Cooley, who should make an immediate impact in the top six for Arizona next year.