With Yeo Out, John Torchetti Takes Over As Wild Coach
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It didn't take long for the Minnesota Wild to announce the new interim head coach. His name is John Torchetti.
It was far from just another optional practice for the Wild at Braemar Arena on Sunday. Ousted head coach Mike Yeo was no longer there, In fact, neither was new head coach John Torchetti, who arrived late Sunday morning from Iowa, where he coached the Wild farm team Saturday night.
It's the age-old story: The players don't perform up to expectations, the head coach gets fired. Anyone who has watched this team under-perform for weeks knows it's a lot more than just the coaching.
Top to bottom with few exceptions, the Wild have looked listless for long stretches and yesterday in their latest home loss to Boston, the fans were often too bored to boo. Right or wrong, everyone could feel a change was imminent, including Yeo after the game.
Now it's up to 51-year old Torchetti to try and light a fire under this team. The Wild open a three-game Canadian road trip in Vancouver Monday night.
Interestingly enough, Torchetti's first home game will be next Sunday afternoon outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium in that long-awaited Stadium Series game against the Chicago Blackhawks.