Elliotte Friedman: The Mammoth considered replacing André Tourigny this season

Marc-Olivier Cook
Elliotte Friedman: The Mammoth considered replacing André Tourigny this season
Credit: Capture d'écran / X

The Utah Mammoth is having a bit of a rollercoaster season.

Things started off great for the team, which was among the league's best after about 15 games. But then André Tourigny's men hit a rough patch… so much so that by the one-third mark of the season, people were wondering if the team would even make the playoffs in the West.

But things have turned around. Today, the Mammoth (84 points) sits in the top Wild Card spot in the West and, barring a surprise, should secure its ticket to the playoffs. 

(Credit: Screenshot / NHL.com)

That said, when things weren't going so well… the Mammoth considered changing coaches.

Peter DeBoer's name seems to have been a hot topic within the organization, as reported by Elliotte Friedman on the Real Kyper & Bourne podcast… and one has to wonder what that means for André Tourigny.

After all, this isn't the first time we've heard rumors like these.

André Tourigny is under contract through the end of next season (26-27).

Will the Mammoth decide to keep him? Will they offer him a contract extension this summer because, as is customary, that's how things work in the National Hockey League?

It's pretty rare for a team to let its coach play out the full term of his contract without offering him a new one…

I get the impression that it might depend on the team's performance in the playoffs. If the Mammoth is eliminated early, I tend to think they might make a change behind the bench because the window of opportunity is opening up for the Mammoth.

And if the organization doesn't believe Tourigny has what it takes to lead the team to the highest levels—as seemed to be the case this season and on a few occasions in the past—his job could be on the line.

This is a story to watch, then.


In a nutshell

– Phew.

– Great contest:

– He's got a shot.

– Oh.

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