Report: Coyotes granted GM Chayka permission to explore other opportunity

The Arizona Coyotes and general manager John Chayka appear to be heading in different directions.

At some point during the NHL's hiatus, the Coyotes were asked about Chayka's availability, and the team granted him permission to explore another opportunity, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The potential opening is apparently not with another team and is a different professional opportunity, according to The Athletic's Craig Morgan.

"It was not a lateral move," said one of Friedman's sources. "He was not going to be the GM of another NHL team."

Owner Alex Meruelo signed Chayka to a long-term deal in November and said he was "fully confident" that the general manager was the right person to lead the club moving forward.

However, while recently discussing a possible "transition period" where Chayka would remain as the Coyotes GM through the remainder of the season, talks fell apart, according to Friedman.

Chayka was reportedly not invited to a recent meeting between the team and pending unrestricted free-agent forward Taylor Hall, according to The Arizona Republic's Kent Somers.

The 31-year-old has three years remaining on his current deal, per Friedman.