Following the madness that shocked the hockey world on Wednesday, with the Vegas Golden Knights terminating head coach Gerard Gallant, one big question that lingered was “who will coach the Pacific Division All-Star Team?”
Gallant was selected as head coach earlier in the season, but is no longer active with an NHL team and thus unable to coach.
As of Thursday morning, the NHL announced that Arizona Coyotes Head coach Rick Tocchet will serve in Gallant's place.
His Arizona Coyotes have held 1st place in the Pacific Division for a good part of the season, which is quite a turnaround from the previous year, in which the Coyotes missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 7th consecutive season.
Tocchet seems to be a crucial part of what the Coyotes have been missing in previous years, sparking a solid run of play through the first half of the season.
Tocchet seemed like the clear, and most deserving choice.
#NHLAllStar Update: @ArizonaCoyotes head coach Rick Tocchet will replace Gerard Gallant as head coach of the Pacific Division at the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/j5EBpuOHpJ— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 16, 2020
