"Tortorella was 227-166-54 in the regular season and 13-18 in the playoffs coaching the Blue Jackets. His 673 wins in 20 seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks and Blue Jackets are most among United States-born coaches in NHL history.

The two-time Jack Adams Award winner (2004, 2017), voted as NHL coach of the year, guided the Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup and the Blue Jackets to their first postseason series victory, against the 62-win Lightning in 2019, when they became the first team to sweep the Presidents' Trophy winners in a best-of-7 series."
- Michael Pachla

I think I'd slit my wrists if we hired him. Guys like him are a thing of the past and it isn't a coincidence that he wears out his welcome. Dolan loves him so hopefully the Rags get him.

Whatever eichels decision is let's hope it stays in house
Don't need him saying he wants out

I think I'd slit my wrists if we hired him. Guys like him are a thing of the past and it isn't a coincidence that he wears out his welcome. Dolan loves him so hopefully the Rags get him.
- Slump Buster

i would actually get a kick out of the sabres hiring him...reactions would be priceless...

however, he's too much for the pegulas to handle...same with the wonder-twin management team...

can you imagine torts and kim in the same room?

*snicker, snicker*

I think I'd slit my wrists if we hired him. Guys like him are a thing of the past and it isn't a coincidence that he wears out his welcome. Dolan loves him so hopefully the Rags get him.
- Slump Buster

The personnel of this team is not conducive to Torts. I don't see it as a fit a-tall.

The personnel of this team is not conducive to Torts. I don't see it as a fit a-tall.
- jcragcrumple

they're missing a goalie, whom torts always seems to rely on...other than that, what pieces don't they have to satisfy his coaching style

they're missing a goalie, whom torts always seems to rely on...other than that, what pieces don't they have to satisfy his coaching style
- Michael Pachla

The defense is comprised of JB's mobile, puck moving defenseman and the forwards are skilled, offensively geared and on the small side. Hiring Torts means neutering Dahlin, Tage and Mitts.

Cozens would probably work but he'd be turned into a Marcus Foligno clone and will never reach his offensive ceiling under Torts. Bryson and Laaksonen would no longer be part of the future, likewise Quinn. It would all but guarantee that Skinner never plays with Eichel again; he'd be vanquished to the 4th line or press box, which would mean getting nothing out of him for $9m a year.

It would be a return to Larry hockey but we don't even have a lot of Larrys anymore. Besides the press conferences, Torts hockey would be hell

The defense is comprised of JB's mobile, puck moving defenseman and the forwards are skilled, offensively geared and on the small side. Hiring Torts means neutering Dahlin, Tage and Mitts.

Cozens would probably work but he'd be turned into a Marcus Foligno clone and will never reach his offensive ceiling under Torts. Bryson and Laaksonen would no longer be part of the future, likewise Quinn. It would all but guarantee that Skinner never plays with Eichel again; he'd be vanquished to the 4th line or press box, which would mean getting nothing out of him for $9m a year.

It would be a return to Larry hockey but we don't even have a lot of Larrys anymore. Besides the press conferences, Torts hockey would be hell
- jcragcrumple

really...

from 16-17 to 19-20, jones (175) and werenski (169) were 2nd and 3rd on the team in scoring...amongst all nhl d-men they were 16th and 18th during that span...

is that turning them into larry's?

and speaking of which, did artemi panarin turn into lockport larry with 169 points (55+114) in 160 games during his stint?

cam atkinson's 111 even-strength goals was t-19th in the league during torts' tenure...

methinks he coached to his team's strengths more than anything

really...

from 16-17 to 19-20, jones (175) and werenski (169) were 2nd and 3rd on the team in scoring...amongst all nhl d-men they were 16th and 18th during that span...

is that turning them into larry's?

and speaking of which, did artemi panarin turn into lockport larry with 169 points (55+114) in 160 games during his stint?

cam atkinson's 111 even-strength goals was t-19th in the league during torts' tenure...

methinks he coached to his team's strengths more than anything
- Michael Pachla

Artemi Panarin couldn't get out of there fast enough. Likewise he has destroyed any value from Laine. PLD wanted to get the hell out of there.

The Sabres simply don't have the personnel to win games 2-1 like Torts wants. He will alienate the offensive players, lower the ceiling of guys like Mitts and Cozens, and push guys out of town at the earliest opportunity. He'll love Girgensons and Eakin though

Artemi Panarin couldn't get out of there fast enough. Likewise he has destroyed any value from Laine. PLD wanted to get the hell out of there.

The Sabres simply don't have the personnel to win games 2-1 like Torts wants. He will alienate the offensive players, lower the ceiling of guys like Mitts and Cozens, and push guys out of town at the earliest opportunity. He'll love Girgensons and Eakin though
- jcragcrumple

A. Panarin is a Russian, they want to play in big cities. Was there any documented tension with he and Torts?
B. Laine isn’t good. Probably the most over rated player in hockey
C. PLD on him requesting a trade -

“ I said since the start I’m not going to go into detail, and I won’t,” said Dubois. “I can say It was a process. I was thinking about a long time. It wasn’t overnight. It wasn’t that I just woke up one morning and it was a decision to make. It was something I thought about. As negotiations were going, obviously you don’t take anything personally, but as they go longer and longer you kind of start to think about stuff and situations.”

He felt disrespected by the contract negotiations.

Artemi Panarin couldn't get out of there fast enough. Likewise he has destroyed any value from Laine. PLD wanted to get the hell out of there.

The Sabres simply don't have the personnel to win games 2-1 like Torts wants. He will alienate the offensive players, lower the ceiling of guys like Mitts and Cozens, and push guys out of town at the earliest opportunity. He'll love Girgensons and Eakin though
- jcragcrumple

Also, I highly doubt he likes Eakin as He gives about 10% effort on each shift

Torts teams overachieve. Period.

The Jackets swept the President trophy winners, beat a Leafs team who were twice as talented.

He has a short shelf life though.

He might be the perfect guy to get a losing culture out of that room

Artemi Panarin couldn't get out of there fast enough. Likewise he has destroyed any value from Laine. PLD wanted to get the hell out of there.

The Sabres simply don't have the personnel to win games 2-1 like Torts wants. He will alienate the offensive players, lower the ceiling of guys like Mitts and Cozens, and push guys out of town at the earliest opportunity. He'll love Girgensons and Eakin though
- jcragcrumple

that has nothing to do with torts turning players into larry's...

panarin scored at 1.06 pts/game in columbus under torts and is at 1.09 pts/game for his career...

and the last part simply is not true...lecavalier, st. louis and brad richards all scored at a rate right around their career averages--vinnie .72 pts/game in tampa .69 for career; st. louis .98 vs .91; brad richards .89 vs .83...

when torts was with the rangers he took a team that lacked star-power up front to the ecf in 2011...

the canucks 83 points in his one season in vancouver is better than any post-tank sabres team

Torts teams overachieve. Period.

The Jackets swept the President trophy winners, beat a Leafs team who were twice as talented.

He has a short shelf life though.

He might be the perfect guy to get a losing culture out of that room
- sbroads24

^this^

Torts teams overachieve. Period.

The Jackets swept the President trophy winners, beat a Leafs team who were twice as talented.

He has a short shelf life though.

He might be the perfect guy to get a losing culture out of that room
- sbroads24

Well you have to ask, does he fit are players or vice versa. I mean are we looking at 2 or 3yrs to fit his style player wise.

Well you have to ask, does he fit are players or vice versa. I mean are we looking at 2 or 3yrs to fit his style player wise.
- Buff36

i think he's the type that will fit his system to the players he has on hand...things he doesn't compromise on are effort and accountability

i think he's the type that will fit his system to the players he has on hand...things he doesn't compromise on are effort and accountability
- Michael Pachla

Then I would hope they would atleast talk with him. We do need a coach that can change the losing Culture. But with things I have read, IMO that guy is already here.

A. Panarin is a Russian, they want to play in big cities. Was there any documented tension with he and Torts?
B. Laine isn’t good. Probably the most over rated player in hockey
C. PLD on him requesting a trade -

“ I said since the start I’m not going to go into detail, and I won’t,” said Dubois. “I can say It was a process. I was thinking about a long time. It wasn’t overnight. It wasn’t that I just woke up one morning and it was a decision to make. It was something I thought about. As negotiations were going, obviously you don’t take anything personally, but as they go longer and longer you kind of start to think about stuff and situations.”

He felt disrespected by the contract negotiations.
- sbroads24

The best players on Torts teams either bail out of his teams when possible or he flames out spectacularly. He's going to have them play a highly structured game. I don't want to get mad at a hypothetical Torts hiring because it hasn't happened, but we all saw what happened when Krueger tried to play lock-down hockey. This personnel is simply not built for that. If they're going with an established coach, I sure hope it's BBQ Bruce

Torts teams overachieve. Period.

The Jackets swept the President trophy winners, beat a Leafs team who were twice as talented.

He has a short shelf life though.

He might be the perfect guy to get a losing culture out of that room
- sbroads24

I loved leaving the hotel check out notices for the players, to motivate them to win game 5 vs the leafs last year

that has nothing to do with torts turning players into larry's...

panarin scored at 1.06 pts/game in columbus under torts and is at 1.09 pts/game for his career...

and the last part simply is not true...lecavalier, st. louis and brad richards all scored at a rate right around their career averages--vinnie .72 pts/game in tampa .69 for career; st. louis .98 vs .91; brad richards .89 vs .83...

when torts was with the rangers he took a team that lacked star-power up front to the ecf in 2011...

the canucks 83 points in his one season in vancouver is better than any post-tank sabres team
- Michael Pachla

torts gets a bad label because panarin and bob wanted to leave when ufa and go to the big cities

and he takes no crap from lazy players


Roslovic has stepped his game up big time under torts, nobody talks about that

Saad had his 2 best years under torts


I could go on, but really don't feel the need to

torts gets a bad label because panarin and bob wanted to leave when ufa and go to the big cities

and he takes no crap from lazy players


Roslovic has stepped his game up big time under torts, nobody talks about that

Saad had his 2 best years under torts


I could go on, but really don't feel the need to
- homiedclown

And Duchene

Torts teams overachieve. Period.

The Jackets swept the President trophy winners, beat a Leafs team who were twice as talented.

He has a short shelf life though.

He might be the perfect guy to get a losing culture out of that room
- sbroads24

This is what will happen :

We'll sign Torts, we'll have immediate good results ... then we'll fizzle and we'll be hearing "We should have just hired Granato as head coach" by mid-season.

Or ...

We'll keep Granato as head coach, we'll start out "OK", then fizzle, and we'll be hearing "We should have hired Torts".

We always make the wrong decision. That's what being a fan of the Buffalo Sabres has come to.

And Duchene
- jcragcrumple

he was a rental though

The best players on Torts teams either bail out of his teams when possible or he flames out spectacularly. He's going to have them play a highly structured game. I don't want to get mad at a hypothetical Torts hiring because it hasn't happened, but we all saw what happened when Krueger tried to play lock-down hockey. This personnel is simply not built for that. If they're going with an established coach, I sure hope it's BBQ Bruce
- jcragcrumple

His structure is nothing like Krueger though.

His teams are tenacious on the forecheck and score a ton off turnovers and greasy goals in general.

Eichel and Reinhart will still get their highly skilled goals. The middle of the lineup will overachieve

His structure is nothing like Krueger though.

His teams are tenacious on the forecheck and score a ton off turnovers and greasy goals in general.

Eichel and Reinhart will still get their highly skilled goals. The middle of the lineup will overachieve
- sbroads24

This team is built to be a high-tempo transition team, not a greasy, grinding net-front team

This team is built to be a high-tempo transition team, not a greasy, grinding net-front team
- jcragcrumple

They’re built for both IMO

Guys like Asplund, Mitts, Thompson, Cozens are all guys who can forecheck and also have speed to play in transition. They also don’t shy away from playing a possession game.

Guys like Olofsson probably would fall out of favor real quick. And that might not be the worst thing. Skinner too.