Coyotes and Tocchet mutually agree to part ways

Last night, the Arizona Coyotes' season officially ended with a 5-4 win in overtime against the San Jose Sharks. Today the team announced that they and Rick Tocchet have mutually agreed to part ways.

The move didn't come as much of a surprise. Rick Tocchet's contract was up after this season, a season that where the Coyotes missed the playoffs again.

Tocchet had been with the Coyotes since July of 2017, and he had a record of 125-131-34. Last season he saw the Coyotes make the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

It was an unusual playoff entry, with the Arizona Coyotes beating the Nashville Predators in a playoff run after Covid-19 cut the season short. The Coyotes were promptly destroyed by the Colorado Avalanche, losing in five games.

The team will begin their search for a new coach immediately. General Manager Bill Armstrong will likely want to have a coach in place before the upcoming expansion draft and entry draft.

Come back for more news on this as it develops.