Andre Tourigny is back, but this sure feels like a prove-it year. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down the Utah Mammoth reportedly extending their head coach by just one season — and why that matters way beyond the headline. A one-year extension after a 92-point playoff season says a lot, and Austin lays out exactly what Tourigny needs to do to earn something longer-term in Utah.

This episode digs into Tourigny’s full track record, from a 57-point season with Arizona in 2021-22 to 70 points, then 77, then 89 in Utah’s first season, and now 92 points with a playoff berth. Austin gives Bear his flowers, but also argues the next step has to be real: push toward 100 points, finish top three in the Central Division, and fix special teams after a power play that finished around 19th in the NHL and disappeared at key moments in the postseason.

Austin also hits the Michael Kesselring trade fallout after Buffalo flipped Kesselring and the 27th pick to San Jose to move up to 20th in the NHL Draft. That shifts the JJ Peterka trade conversation even more toward Peterka vs. Josh Doan moving forward. There’s also some San Jose Sharks anxiety, Macklin Celebrini respect, Mammoth Ice Center rookie camp chatter for June 29-July 1, and a very real question hanging over all of this: if Tourigny doesn’t make the next leap, could Utah eventually look at a bigger swing behind the bench?

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