Alex Galchenyuk’s tenure with the Arizona Coyotes has come to an abrupt end as the team placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. This decision comes just 12 days after the forward signed a new contract with the Coyotes.
The shocking move by the team comes in light of Galchenyuk’s recent arrest on July 9. Scottsdale Police have confirmed that the player was arrested on several charges, including private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating. Fortunately, no one was injured in the hit and run incident.
According to a police report obtained by 12News, Galchenyuk allegedly made violent threats towards the officers who responded to the hit-and-run incident. He reportedly threatened to “chop” and disembowel an officer and members of his family. Furthermore, an African-American officer accused Galchenyuk of uttering a racial slur. The report also states that Galchenyuk displayed signs of impairment, and his father, who was present at the scene, claimed that he had never seen his son act this way before.
A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for August 11 to address the charges against Galchenyuk. The NHL Player’s Association is also said to be reviewing the matter, as reported by NHL Network correspondent Craig Morgan.
In response to the incident, the Coyotes issued a statement condemning Galchenyuk’s behavior. They stated that the process of terminating his contract has been initiated in accordance with the National Hockey League regulations. The team exercised their right to terminate the contract due to a material breach of the terms.
Galchenyuk, a veteran of the NHL, had a short stint with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2022-23 season, failing to record a point in 11 games. He spent the majority of the year with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, where he had solid stats, scoring 16 goals and 42 points in 42 games. He also contributed three assists in seven postseason contests.
The 29-year-old forward was traded to the Nashville Predators in June but was not utilized by the team, leading to the Coyotes signing him for his third stint with the organization.
Galchenyuk rose to prominence as the third-overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He played six seasons with the Canadiens before making stops at various other franchises over the past 11 years. Throughout his career, he has appeared in 654 NHL games, tallying 146 goals and 208 assists.
The Coyotes’ decision to terminate Galchenyuk’s contract sends a strong message about the team’s commitment to upholding a standard of behavior off the ice.