The search for the Wild's fifth (or maybe fourth if John Torchetti keeps the gig) head coach has officially begun.
According to sources, Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher received permission and had his first phone conversation with recently fired Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau over the weekend. In addition, Fletcher sat down with Torchetti today for the first time since the season ended.
Fletcher said last week that Torchetti was "definitely a very serious candidate."
Part of the reason for meeting with Torchetti, despite the obvious discussion about whether his vision for the future aligns with Fletcher's vision, was to deconstruct what happened with the team down the stretch as Fletcher begins the intel and analysis phase of the offseason.
But as much as Fletcher said last week he's in no rush to hire a coach, the timetable clearly was accelerated once Boudreau was fired Friday by the Ducks.
The last time Boudreau was unemployed, that lasted two days. And with the Wild and Ottawa Senators the only two current teams looking for coaches besides Anaheim, Fletcher had to get a move on it. Boudreau indicated to the Orange County Register's Eric Stephens today that he doesn't want to take a break and does hope to coach another team next season.
Per sources, Fletcher received that permission from GM Bob Murray and touched base with Boudreau, although a formal in-person interview has not yet taken place.
It is very likely that Ottawa, which has also interviewed Mike Yeo, has also sought and received permission as well.
