John Tortorella Stays Put, Agree To A 2-Year Extension With The Columbus Blue Jackets

By Jordan Long

The Columbus Blue Jackets decided to extend the contract of Head Coach John Tortorella.  His original deal was set to expire after this upcoming season.  The Blue Jackets wanted to keep him around.

                The Blue Jackets hired Tortorella on October 15^th, 2015 after firing Todd Richards following a horrible 0-7-0 start.  Columbus finished 34-40-8 .  In 2017 they were an improved team with an overall record of 50-24-8 for total of 108 points.  They made the playoffs as the 3^rd seed in the Metropolitan Division.  In the playoffs they faced the Pittsburgh Penguins but were knocked off in the 1^st-round.   Even though it was a disappointing playoff series, Tortorella turned the team into a winner.  For that, he won the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach Of The Year.

                Last season, the expectations were even larger.  Columbus needed to make the playoffs again.  They ended the regular season at 97 points.  They reached the postseason as the 1^st Wild Card team in the Eastern Conference.

The Jackets ended up playing the Washington Capitals in the 1^st-round.  Columbus was up 2-0 in the series.  It looked like it was going to be another disappointing playoff run for the Capitals.  The Capitals managed to win 4 straight to knock off the Blue Jackets.

  The Blue Jackets needed to keep Tortorella for the job he has done the past 3 years.  According to ESPN, Blue Jackets’ General Manager Jarmo Kakalainen said, “Our team has been one of the winningest in the NHL over the past two seasons and John Tortorella has played a critical role in that success and in raising the level of our team’s play since his arrival. His passion and commitment to being the best has permeated our team and we believe will lead to even greater success in the future.”

Columbus knows Tortorella could be the difference in them making a deep run to the playoffs versus not participating in the postseason.  He owns a record of 129-87-23 with the Blue Jackets.  The goal for him with this new deal is to not only make the playoffs the next 3 years, but advance past the 1^st-round.  The ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup.