Coyotes to interview Blues assistant Mike Van Ryn for head-coaching job

The Arizona Coyotes are expected to interview St. Louis Blues assistant Mike Van Ryn next week as the search for the team’s next head coach continues, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Van Ryn, 42, has ties to the Arizona franchise. He was hired by the Coyotes in 2016 as a player development coach and the next season was elevated to head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners, Arizona’s AHL club.

The Roadrunners won the Pacific Division and went 42-20-5 that season and lost in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Van Ryn left Tucson after that one-season run, joining the Blues as an assistant coach and helping the team to win the 2019 Stanley Cup.

The London, Ontario, native played for the Blues from 2000-03. He also spent time with the New Jersey Devils (1998-2000), Florida Panthers (2003-08) and Toronto Maple Leafs (2008-10).

He began his coaching career immediately after retiring as a player, spending time with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL (2010-11), the AHL’s Houston Aeros (2011-13) and the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers (2013-16).

In St. Louis as a coach, Van Ryn got to know assistant general manager Bill Armstrong, who was hired as Coyotes general manager in September 2020.

The Coyotes parted with head coach Rick Tocchet in May after they completed a 24-26-6 season.

Tocchet was hired in July 2017 by then-GM John Chayka, who left Arizona in July 2020.

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