Ryan and Ashley Smith, owners of the Jazz basketball team, have appointed Amir Shafii as the alternate governor and top hockey decision-maker for their NHL franchise in Utah. Shafii, an executive vice president of Talent & Innovation at Wasserman, will take on this new role on May 31. While his official title is yet to be determined, his role in running the business operations remains unclear.
Sources confirm that Shafii has accepted the position and will be leaving Wasserman. Bill Armstrong, Utah’s general manager who previously worked with the Coyotes, will report directly to Chris Armstrong (no relation). Chris Armstrong played a key role in Ryan Smith’s acquisition of the Utah franchise through a three-way transaction with the NHL and the Coyotes, stemming from his representation of golfer Tony Finau.
Chris Armstrong has experience in both golf and hockey. He was instrumental in building Wasserman’s business in Canada and opened an office in Toronto in 2011. Over the years, he has helped represent numerous NHL players, including Penguins President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas during negotiations with the Maple Leafs in 2023. However, concerns arose about a potential conflict of interest as Wasserman represents many NHL players, leading to review by the NHL Players Association regarding Armstrong’s relationship with Dubas. The union has not made any public statements about whether Wasserman violated any agent regulations.
