GLENDALE (Ariz.) -- The Arizona Coyotes have hired Andre Tourigny, a veteran NHL assistant, to be their head coach as they look to rebuild around a young core.The decision of the team was first reported on by AZCoyotes Insider. It was confirmed Wednesday night by ESPN. This could begin a busy offseason for Arizona.Tourigny will replace Rick Tocchet who was fired May 9, after the Coyotes failed for the playoffs the seventh consecutive season.Tourigny, 47 years old, has been the coach and vice-president of hockey operations for the Ottawa 67s of the junior Ontario Hockey League for the past four seasons. He was previously an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche, and Ottawa Senators.Tourigny served as an assistant coach to Gerrard Gallant earlier this month on Team Canada's win at the world championships. Tourigny also led Team Canada to gold in the 2020 world junior championships. He was scheduled to coach again at the world juniors later this year but has to be replaced.After leading the 67s' to their best record in consecutive seasons, Tourigny was named OHL Coach of the Year in 2020. He started his coaching career at the junior major hockey level in 1998. In 2003-04, he became the head coach of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.Tourigny assumes control of a team that may be heading for more significant changes. The Coyotes reached the postseason in the pandemic bubble last season, but were not able to make it this season.Taylor Hall was added to the New Jersey Devils in a major deal that triggered the bubble season. Hall was granted free agency by the Buffalo Sabres. He eventually signed with the Boston Bruins after the Coyotes offered a package of draft picks as well as prospects to make the deal work.Arizona was fourth in the playoffs heading into the final month. However, Arizona lost 12 of 15 games to be eliminated from contention. Many Coyotes unrestricted free agents are available to them, including Antti Raanta as goalie and Niklas Hjalmarsson as defensemen. Conor Garland, third-leading scorer, is a restricted free agent.This report was contributed by The Associated Press.
