Gary Bettman and Utah's owner Ryan Smith
Photo credit: NHL.com

Utah's first NHL head coach has officially been announced

Published April 21, 2024 at 10:52 PM
BY JAMES CONNELLY

The NHL is moving the Arizona Coyotes to Utah and with that comes all of the players and staff. There was uncertainty on the coach but we now know who it is.

Since the Arizona Coyotes' relocation was announced, it has been the biggest news in the NHL and has not left headlines. The Utah hockey team will absorb all of the Coyotes' assets and that means the players, GM, and coach.

Some wondered if Utah would want to head a different coaching direction but it seems like owner Ryan Smith is pleased with how Andre Tourigny has handled the Coyotes.

Ryan Smith confirms GM Bill Armstrong and head coach Andre Tourigny will remain with the NHL Utah franchise.


His message to the players: «We'll get everyone in the first year; it's your job to keep them there.»


This does not mean that Smith will not be aggressive as he intends on making Utah as competitive as possible as quickly as possible and if that means parting ways with Tourigny in the second year, he likely will.

Till then, it looks like next year will be a transition year both metaphorically and literally with the Utah team hoping to clinch a playoff birth.

Source - PuckReporter
Ryan Smith officially announces GM and Head Coach for Utah
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Utah's first NHL head coach has officially been announced

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