SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Bill Armstrong’s first transfer because the Arizona Coyotes’ common supervisor was to do nothing.
Wanting to take a calculated take a look at the moribund franchise, Armstrong sat again and watched for a whole season earlier than deciding on a plan of action.
His plan: a virtually full overhaul.
To pull off his rebuild, Armstrong wanted a coach who might join with and develop younger gamers.
André Tourigny was the proper match.
“The one thing about him was that he was firm with his players, he motivated his players, but didn’t leave a scar,” Armstrong stated. “I felt like we needed that type of coach because we were in the process of gutting everything, keeping what we liked then added in young players. You need to bring them in properly and I felt like he could do that.”
The Coyotes have been a curiosity throughout the league because the franchise has gone by means of a string of homeowners, together with 4 years of being operated by the NHL, commonly missed the playoffs and struggled to discover a everlasting residence.
Playing at Arizona State University’s 5,000-seat Mullett Arena since final season has solely intensified the novelty of hockey within the desert.
Now the franchise might lastly be banking towards a greater future, no less than on the ice.
After years of attempting so as to add gamers to their present core, the Coyotes went all-in on Armstrong’s ground-up plan. Arizona began unloading veteran gamers to accrue draft picks, a choice that left them talent-thin on the ice, however fortified for the longer term.
When the franchise opted to half methods with coach Rick Tocchet after 4 seasons, Armstrong wished a coach who had expertise growing younger gamers since that will be the first make-up of the roster.
Tourigny has spent a lot of his profession working with youthful gamers, beginning with an 11-year stint as the top coach and common supervisor for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Tourigny additionally served as an assistant coach for Colorado and Ottawa within the NHL from 2013-16 earlier than returning to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Halifax. He moved on to educate the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League in 2017.
Tourigny started teaching with Team Canada as an assistant coach for the 2010 world under-20 championships and was the top coach for the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, incomes a gold medal.
Tourigny’s previous meshed completely with the Coyotes’ plans for the longer term.
“He knows how to manage the room and he’s very good at engaging personalities and kind of where we’re at,” Coyotes ahead Nick Bjugstad stated. “And he knows when to pedal down and kind of expect more from his players.”
As the Coyotes enter their third season beneath Tourigny, they’ve reached what Armstrong calls section two of the rebuilding venture.
Arizona labored to 57 factors and a last-place end in Tourigny’s first season. The Coyotes took a step ahead final 12 months, incomes 13 extra factors whereas going 21-15-5 at The Mullett.
Now they’re on to the subsequent step of Armstrong’s plan, centered on a youth motion.
Three-time All-Star Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz and Barrett Hayton have already confirmed to be efficient NHL gamers who’re reaching the prime of their careers. Forward Matias Maccelli is coming off a stellar rookie season that was interrupted by a lower-leg damage, whereas former first-round picks Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley look like NHL-ready.
To complement and information the younger core, Arizona was aggressive in the course of the offseason, including forwards Jason Zucker and Alex Kerfoot, defensemen Sean Durzi and Matt Dumba.
Armstrong and Tourigny each acquired contract extensions earlier than the season, making certain they may get an opportunity to see the fruits of their rebuilding efforts.
“The moves they made in the summer allowed us to be more competitive,” Tourigny stated. “So I think they kept their word and so far that every step Billy has planned, we’re on par with where we want to be.”
Everywhere besides the sector entrance.
The Coyotes thought they had been going to get a long-awaited new enviornment through a referendum this spring however voters in Tempe shot it down. Owner Alex Meruelo purchased a parcel of land in Mesa to doubtlessly construct a brand new enviornment and should purchase extra land to provide the franchise choices.
With nothing concrete sooner or later, the Coyotes will proceed to play at The Mullett.
The enviornment shared with Arizona State University has given Arizona a determined home-ice benefit, however the NHL Players Association has expressed considerations in regards to the long-term viability of enjoying in a university enviornment.
“I always felt deep in my heart this would work,” Armstrong stated. “I think we’re going on a timeline with our team and a timeline with our rink, it’s probably on pace and it’s going to come.”
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