"We're lucky," Tocchet said. "We have a great staff, even the off-ice staff. Good people. So, that's fun. Everyone likes hanging with each other. You're in a hotel, you've got to stay in a hotel together, right? So, you try to make it fun."
Per NHL protocols, players and staff cannot "patronize or enter internal venues other than the designated hotel, the practice facility or the game arena."
Each NHL city has a designated hotel for visiting clubs. Unlike previous seasons, and even decades, players and staff do not have roommates.
"The guys have the banquet room with a ping-pong table, go for walks," Tocchet said. "You don't want the guys … we all don't want to sit in our room all day. It's tough. We're going to try to utilize (the time) even more with more meetings, individual meetings with coaches with video. You don't want to 'video' the team to death, the players."
Tocchet believes this season's road trips will provide an opportunity for better friendships and relationships.
"I think it's okay (for the players) to spend some time with a coach," Tocchet said. "Maybe before dinner or after dinner. Talk about hockey or talk about life. I think it's important. As coaches, we don't have a lot of that time because usually you have practice, you have your time and then they leave. We're going to have a lot of time together."
The Coyotes' second road trip spans nearly two weeks and comprises six games in three different cities, February 2-11. It is the first of two six-game road trips on the schedule.
A season-longest, eight-game road trip is scheduled for March 29 - April 11.
"So, I think it's important to get the players even more … and not be afraid to - it's okay to be their friend. It's not the coach-player thing. And I think you're going to have that time in the hotel and you have to embrace that."
Lead Photo Credit: David Becker - NHLI via Getty Images
