Coyotes' Armstrong: I didn't come 'all the way to the desert to get a tan'
Bill Armstrong wants to make it clear he didn't take the job as Arizona Coyotes general manager to soak up some rays.
I didn't come here, all the way to the desert to get a tan. I came here to win a championship."
- Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) September 22, 2020
Meet our new GM Bill Armstrong: pic.twitter.com/EOfx8h4IrR
"Weather has nothing to do with it," Armstrong added. "As I told them in the interview process, I will see my house, the car, and my office, and not much of Arizona."
However, the 50-year-old - who the Coyotes hired last week - did say his new employer's state has its charm.
Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong on living in AZ: "I didn't realize how beautiful it was here."
- Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) September 22, 2020
Once he stepped off the plane, he fell in love with the place.
Armstrong also said he's "looking forward to working with" head coach Rick Tocchet, according to NHL Network's Craig Morgan.
The Coyotes named Armstrong to the position on Thursday. He replaces John Chayka, who terminated his contract in July, after which Arizona accused him of quitting on the franchise.
Armstrong spent the last two seasons as assistant general manager of the St. Louis Blues, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2019.
Arizona eliminated the Nashville Predators in four games during their best-of-five play-in round series to advance to the round of 16 in August. However, the Colorado Avalanche then ousted the Coyotes in five contests.
Arizona hasn't advanced past the first round since 2012, and the Coyotes hadn't made the playoffs prior to this season since that same year, when they reached the Western Conference Final.
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