(Scottsdale) To succeed in a rebuild, Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong needed a coach who could connect with young players. André Tourigny was the ideal person.
“He is firm with his players and he motivates them,” Armstrong said. We needed this type of coach. You have to train young players properly and I had the impression he can do that. »
The Coyotes have had several owners, including four years under NHL management. They rarely reached the playoffs and had difficulty finding a permanent site to play.
Having Arizona State University’s 5,000-seat Mullett Arena as its home further highlighted the special nature of hockey in the desert.
Now the team could finally be heading towards a brighter future, at least on the ice, after shedding veterans to stockpile draft picks.
After Rick Tocchet’s four-year stint at the helm, Armstrong was looking for a coach with experience developing young players.
Tourigny spent 11 years as head coach and general manager of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
Tourigny also served as an assistant coach in Colorado and Ottawa in the NHL (from 2013 to 2016), before returning to the QMJHL with Halifax.
He then became coach of the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League in 2017.
Tourigny joined Team Canada as an assistant coach for the 2010 World Under-20 Championships, then served as head coach at the 2021 World Junior Championships, winning gold.
In short, a roadmap that fits perfectly with the Coyotes’ plans.
The club only collected 57 points in his first season in office. The Coyotes made progress last season, picking up 13 more points, including a 21-15-5 record at home.
Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz and Barrett Hayton are effective players approaching their prime years on the ice.
Matias Maccelli is coming off a strong rookie season, cut short by a lower leg injury, while first-round picks Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley appear ready for the NHL.
To complement and guide the young core, Arizona was aggressive this offseason, adding forwards Jason Zucker and Alex Kerfoot, as well as defensemen Sean Durzi and Matt Dumba.
Both Armstrong and Tourigny received contract extensions ahead of the upcoming season.
“The measures they took this summer allowed us to be more competitive,” Tourigny said. They kept their word and we got to where we wanted to go. »
The Coyotes will begin the regular season on October 13 in New Jersey.