Bill Armstrong's first move as the Arizona Coyotes' general manager was to do nothing. To pull off his rebuild, Armstrong needed a coach who could connect with and develop young players. The Coyotes have been a curiosity across the league as the franchise has gone through a string of owners, including four years of being operated by the NHL, regularly missed the playoffs and struggled to find a permanent home.
Arizona labored to 57 points and a last-place finish in Tourigny s first season. The Coyotes took a step forward last year, earning 13 more points while going 21-15-5 at The Mullett.