Todd Richards is the second coach in the history of the Minnesota Wild hockey team. As of a few minutes ago, the search is officially on for the third.
Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher just made the announcement that, effective immediately, Todd Richards has been relieved of his duties as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild.
Richards finished his second season as the coach of the Wild yesterday. He took over for Jacques Lemaire prior to the 2009-10 season, and compiled a record of 77-71-16 over the past two seasons. In both of those years, the Wild contended for a playoff spot, and both years they fell short. This year's collapse was particularly ugly, as the Wild had been ranked as high as fifth in the Western Conference playoff chase before completely falling apart and winding up twelfth of the fifteen Western Conference teams.
We will have more news on this story as it continues to develop, and be sure to check out our good friends at Hockey Wilderness for their perspective on this as well.