Coyotes Pitch Hay After Only One Season
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PHOENIX — The Phoenix Coyotes, who struggled through their first season in Arizona, fired Coach Don Hay and assistant Paul MacLean on Tuesday.
Zinetula Bilyaletdinov was offered another job with the club.
The moves came one week after Phoenix was eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs by the Mighty Ducks.
“This was my decision,” Coyote General Manager Bobby Smith said. “I just felt that if this team is going to be as good as we can be . . . we need a different coaching staff.”
Hay, 42, was signed to a three-year contract July 1 by the former Winnipeg Jets.
At 38-37-7, the franchise had its best regular-season record since 1992-93.
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