As the Minnesota Wild continue to slip in a tough Central Division, the team decided over the weekend that it was time to make a change. The organization announced the firing of head coach Mike Yeo on Saturday following the team's 4-2 loss at home to the Boston Bruins. John Torchetti has been named the interim replacement.
The move comes in the middle of Yeo's fifth season with the team, as he led the team to the playoffs the last three seasons. He compiled a record of 173-132-44 in Minnesota, but struggled in the postseason with an 11-17 record.
The now former Wild head coach did lead the team to the Western Conference Semifinals the last two seasons, losing in both.
Torchetti was called up from coaching the team's AHL affiliate in Iowa. He has nine seasons of coaching experience, including gigs as the interim head coach of the Florida Panthers in 2004 and Los Angeles Kings in 2006.
The team had high hopes after big-time free agent signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but a recent 2-8-4 stretch as slipped the team to 11th in the Western Conference. They have gone 3-12-4 in their past 19, recording the least amount of points in the league during that span.
The team will look to end the season on a high note, hoping the change at the top will help the turnaround from the recent struggles take place sooner rather than later.
The move comes in the middle of Yeo's fifth season with the team, as he led the team to the playoffs the last three seasons. He compiled a record of 173-132-44 in Minnesota, but struggled in the postseason with an 11-17 record.
The now former Wild head coach did lead the team to the Western Conference Semifinals the last two seasons, losing in both.
Torchetti was called up from coaching the team's AHL affiliate in Iowa. He has nine seasons of coaching experience, including gigs as the interim head coach of the Florida Panthers in 2004 and Los Angeles Kings in 2006.
The team had high hopes after big-time free agent signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but a recent 2-8-4 stretch as slipped the team to 11th in the Western Conference. They have gone 3-12-4 in their past 19, recording the least amount of points in the league during that span.
The team will look to end the season on a high note, hoping the change at the top will help the turnaround from the recent struggles take place sooner rather than later.
