Another piece of the NHL’s coaching puzzle fell into place Thursday.
The Detroit Red Wings have hired John Torchetti as an assistant coach for two seasons, executive vice president and general manager Ken Holland announced.
Former Ottawa Senators head coach Dave Cameron and newly hired Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Todd Richards were also reportedly considered for the job.
Torchetti, 51, took over as interim head coach of the Minnesota Wild in mid-February when the organization fired Mike Yeo. Under his watch, the faltering Wild rallied to qualify for the playoffs. They were then outmatched and eliminated by the Dallas Stars in the opening round.
The Boston native was a strong candidate to continue as the Wild’s head coach, but that job ultimately went to Bruce Boudreau when he was fired from the Anaheim Ducks.
Torchetti has thrice served as an interim head coach in the NHL, posting a record of 30-30-4-2 in short stints with Minnesota, Florida (2003-04) and Los Angeles (2005-06).
He brings more than 30 years of professional hockey experience as a player, coach and general manager to Detroit. Torchetti won a Stanley Cup as an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
Fun fact: Torchetti was also the first American to coach Red Army, as run by Hall of Famer and Red Wings alum Sergei Fedorov.
(hing hint, nudge nudge) – Torchetti coached Radulov in the KHL.
— Kyle M. (@KyleWIIM) June 9, 2016
The Red Wings also added Doug Houda (formerly of the Bruins) as an assistant coach and Jeff Salajko as their goaltending coach this off-season.
Houda will be charged with leading the defence and penalty kill, while Torchetti will be tasked with the offence and power play under head coach Jeff Blashill.
