With Gallant fired, Coyotes' Tocchet to coach Pacific team in all-star game
Arizona coach to fill in after Golden Knights let Gallant go on Wednesday
Arizona Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet will replace Gerard Gallant behind the bench for the Pacific Division at the upcoming NHL all-star game, the league announced Thursday.
Gallant was named the head coach of the Pacific team on Jan. 3, when the Vegas Golden Knights resided in first place in the division. Gallant, however, was fired on Wednesday by the Golden Knights.
Tocchet has guided the Coyotes into first place in the top-heavy Pacific with a 26-18-5 record. They hold a two-point lead over the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames entering play on Thursday.
The 55-year-old Tocchet will become the second Coyotes coach to participate in an All-Star Game, joining Jim Schoenfeld (1999).
Tocchet joins Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins (Atlantic), Craig Berube of the St. Louis Blues (Central) and Todd Reirden of the Washington Capitals (Metropolitan) as All-Star Game coaches.
The All-Star Game will be held in St. Louis on Jan. 25.