Coyotes hire Tocchet as new head coach

PHOENIX (CP) — The Arizona Coyotes hired Rick Tocchet as head coach, turning the team over to a man who helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win the past two Stanley Cup titles.

Tocchet, 53, who spent the past three seasons as a Pittsburgh assistant, played 18 seasons in the NHL and helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 1992. Tocchet spent one season as an assistant to Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky in 2005-06 and played parts of three seasons with the team from 1997 to 2000.

Tocchet’s controversial departure from his Coyotes coaching job did not figure into the decision to hire him, said GM John Chayka.

“Rick was the best candidate by a wide margin,” Chayka said.

Tocchet was on a leave of absence from his Coyotes job in 2007 when he pleaded guilty in New Jersey to conspiracy to promote gambling and promoting gambling. He was sentenced to two years’ probation. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said an investigation showed Tocchet’s involvement in gambling was not as serious as first thought and he was suspended for three months. There was no evidence Tocchet ever bet on hockey games.

“He’s a man of character and integrity,” Chayka said. “Any issues in the past are in the past. It didn’t raise any red flags for us whatsoever.”

Tocchet briefly returned to the Coyotes in 2008 before being hired as an assistant at Tampa Bay. He became interim head coach of the Lightning that November and was head coach at Tampa Bay the next two seasons.

But it was his work with Pittsburgh that elevated him to the clear favourite to replace Dave Tippett, who parted ways with the Coyotes after eight years as the franchise’s head coach.