The Arizona Coyotes are interested in signing coach Andre Tourigny to a new contract.
The 49-year-old is in the final season of a three-year deal. He's 53-90-21 and guided the Coyotes (28-40-14) to three more wins and 13 more points last season than 2021-22.
"He's done Phase 1 very well," Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong told NHL.com. "He has got the players to buy into what he's doing. He's got the players to buy into the culture and he's got the players to buy in to compete every single night here in the desert.
"Now we're entering Phase 2 with adding some good players into the mix and trying to play meaningful games. I think he's done a great job and now I believe we're going to be able to get an extension with him and move into the future, into Phase 2 with him. He's certainly somebody that's infused a tremendous amount of culture and belief in this organization."
No matter the status of his contract, Tourigny said it'll be business as usual for him this season.
"That doesn't change anything," Tourigny said, "The only way I can improve my situation is by doing what I have to do every day. If you focus on [it being a distraction], we're surely at the wrong place, so you need to focus on your task, focus on right now."
The Coyotes start the preseason with two games against the Los Angeles Kings in Melbourne, Australia, as part of the 2023 NHL Global Series on Sept. 22 and 23. They'll begin the regular season on the East Coast, playing six of nine on the road and three straight at home before going on the road again for five more. Their first extended homestand is five games from Nov. 28-Dec. 7.
Arizona continued its rebuild this offseason with veteran additions to complement a growing core. The Coyotes acquired 24-year-old defenseman Sean Durzi in a trade with the Kings on June 24 for a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Forwards Jason Zucker (one year), Nick Bjugstad (two years) and Alex Kerfoot (two years), and defenseman Troy Stecher (one year), signed free agent contracts July 1.
Zucker told NHL.com he's hoping for a long-term stay in Arizona. Bjugstad and Stecher chose to return after they were sent to the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, respectively, before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. The common thread is Tourigny.
"He was definitely a part of that call, and he was great," Zucker said. "He was great to talk to. I've talked to him multiple times. He was very instrumental in that original pitch. When we talked, he seems like a great coach. Everyone that I've talked to absolutely loves him."
Coyotes forward Clayton Keller is signed through 2027-28 and had NHL career highs with 37 goals, 49 assists and 86 points in 82 games last season. Matias Maccelli, who was third on the Coyotes with 49 points (11 goals, 38 assists), signed a two-year contract July 17. The 22-year-old forward was fourth in voting for the 2022 Calder Trophy given to the NHL rookie of the year last season.
Maccelli said it's been fun going to the rink every day, part of the trust Tourigny has established in two seasons.
"When we did our research on him, I knew him from (junior hockey) pretty well," Armstrong said. "One of the things that I love about him and the reason that we have the ability to re-sign him and move into Phase 2 with him is because he doesn't leave a scar with the players. He has the players' best interests at heart and he's firm with the player. He motivates the player, but he doesn't leave a scar. I think they know that he likes them behind the scenes, and I think they feel that love and it enables him to get the most out of the player without leaving a scar."
The Coyotes have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice since 2011-12, a five-game loss to the Kings in the Western Conference Final. They lost the 2020 Western Conference First Round to the Colorado Avalanche following a four-game win against the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
"We want to play meaningful games," Tourigny said. "We want to improve our performance from last year. The only way we will do that is focusing on what can control and our performance daily and not looking ahead. When you lift your eyes to too high, you trip on the next obstacle. For us, it will be able to keep our eyes on the road."
