Former Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach John Torchetti is heading to the Motor City.
The Detroit Red Wings hired Torchetti has its assistant coach Thursday. Torchetti was also linked to the Florida Panthers‘ assistant coaching vacancy.
The 51-year-old guided the Minnesota Wild to a 15-11 record and a playoff berth as its interim coach after replacing Mike Yeo. He previously served as Minnesota’s head coach of their AHL affiliate, Iowa Wild. He assisted behind the Chicago bench from 2007-10, helping guide the team to their first Stanley Cup in 49 years.
Following the Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup win, Torchetti left to become an associate head coach for the Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets). The following year, he was hired as the new head coach of the Houston Aeros, then the Wild’s AHL affiliate, replacing Yeo, who was promoted to coach the Wild at the NHL level. In 2013-14, Torchetti coached KHL’s CSKA Moscow and in November 2014, he returned the U.S. to coach Iowa.