Torchetti has been an interim head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers, the Los Angeles Kings, and Minnesota Wild.

He served as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Thrashers, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL, as well as the Kontinental Hockey League's HC CSKA Moscow.

His first head coaching position was with the San Antonio Iguanas of the Central Hockey League, where he took over when Bill Goldsworthy became ill.

Before the 1999–2000 NHL season Torchetti was hired as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning under Steve Ludzik.

During the 2005–06 NHL season, Torchetti was hired by Dave Taylor as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

With a chance to clinch a playoff spot, he had a 5–7 record in the team's final 12 games and was not retained by the Kings, instead being replaced by Marc Crawford.

He coached the team to a 39–25–0–4 record and a third-placed finish in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Eastern Division.