Report suggests that John Tortorella could be up for a vacant head coaching job this summer
John Tortorella has not been behind an NHL bench since he and the Columbus Blue Jackets parted ways at the end of last season. Now there appears to be some chatter picking up about Torts coming back next season.
Per Andy Strickland of Bally Sports Midwest and The Cam and Strick Podcast, Tortorella and the Philadelphia Flyers could be discussing the possibility of the 63-year-old stepping in to try to pull the Flyers out of the gutter.
Torts is certainly a polarizing figure in the hockey world, with his very matter-of-fact, stern demeanor and willingness to speak his mind, even if what's on his mind isn't necessarily family friendly. That said, he has found success behind the bench, winning a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2003-04 and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance with the New York Rangers in 2011-12.
Tortorella was known for his ability to get the most out of his players in Columbus, taking a band of misfits to the playoffs in 4 of his 6 seasons with the Blue Jackets. That is, until the players began to tune him out, which eventually led to him being replaced by assistant coach Brad Larsen in Columbus. The question is, with the Flyers already down and out, is Torts the right man to get the train back on the tracks?
