ARIZONA COYOTES
Former Coyotes coach Dave Tippett named Oilers head coach
Former Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett was named head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, the team announced Tuesday.
He was introduced at a press conference following a period of reports that Tippett would indeed replace Edmonton’s fired coach Todd McLellan and interim Ken Hitchcock. SportsNet’s Mark Spector first reported Tuesday morning that the hire was made and would be announced the same day.
Tippett has agreed to a three-year deal, Elliotte Friedman reported, while TSN’s Pierre LeBrun added that he believes the deal is for just under $3 million per year.
Tippett has 14 years of NHL head-coaching experience and spent his last eight with the Coyotes (2009-17). Before his tenure with Arizona/Phoenix, Tippett coached the Dallas Stars.
After working as a senior adviser for the NHL’s Seattle franchise, he re-enters the coaching ranks after parting with the Coyotes in June 2017. He went 282-257-83 in his eight years in the Valley.
The Coyotes finished the 2016-17 season 30-42-10 before replacing Tippett with their former player, Rick Tocchet, who joined Arizona from the Pittsburgh Penguins staff.
The Tocchet-led Coyotes have posted 29-41-12 and 39-35-8 records in his first two seasons since Tippett’s departure.
In Edmonton, Tippett takes over a team that went 35-38-9 last year but features Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who respectively ranked second and fourth in points scored this past regular season.
