The Arizona Coyotes have hired Rick Tocchet as the team’s next head coach, replacing Dave Tippett.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports Tocchet signed a four-year deal with the Coyotes.
Tocchet has been an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins since 2014 and is coming off back-to-back Stanley Cups with the team.
The Coyotes parted ways with Tippett in June after eight seasons with the team. The Coyotes went 30-42-10 last season, missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.
After 18 seasons in the NHL – including three years with the Coyotes franchise – Tocchet began his coaching career with the Colorado Avalanche in 2002-03 as an assistant before moving on to the then-Phoenix Coyotes in 2005-08 and finally Tampa Bay Lightning before getting his first opportunity as a head coach with the Lightning after Barry Melrose was fired on Nov. 16, 2008.
Tocchet, 53, had the interim tag removed as head coach of the Lightning on May 11, 2009 and signed a two-year deal with the team, but was relieved of his duties on Apr. 12, 2010 by new ownership after compiling a record of 53-69-26.
