The Minnesota Wild and director of team operations Andrew Heydt “have mutually agreed to part ways,” the team said in a statement to Sportsnet.
It marks the second departure of a front-office executive in 10 days, following the mutual parting with assistant general manager Chris O’Hearn, who left the organization Dec. 13.
The Wild said they would not comment further on the matter.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported on Dec. 14 that Heydt was the employee who accused general manager Bill Guerin of verbal abuse.
Heydt has been with the Wild for the past 10 years and oversees team travel, logistics and player and alumni relations.
Russo reported that Guerin was the focus of an investigation following a complaint by Heydt, who accused the team’s president of hockey operations and general manager of verbal abuse. The Athletic‘s report was based on anonymous sourcing, and the team statement on the matter made no mention of Guerin.
The Wild concluded two investigations into their code of conduct, and the organization said on Dec. 14 it took “appropriate steps” to address the matters that were brought to its attention.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly previously said in an email to the Star Tribune that the league was satisfied with how the Wild handled the situation. The Wild at that time said they would have no further comment.
It has been a rough start to the season for Minnesota, which improved to 14-13-4 with a 4-3 overtime win over Montreal on Thursday night. The team fired coach Dean Evason on Nov. 27 and replaced him with John Hynes.
In addition to Guerin, a traditionally-lean Minnesota front office has Mat Sells, vice-president of hockey strategy, and assistant to the GM Mike Murray, who is also the general manager for the team’s AHL franchise in Iowa.