Photo Credit: AP Photo
After losing to the New York Islanders, 4-0, at home on Tuesday night, the Blue Jackets are 0-7. On Wednesday morning, John Tortorella was hired as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets following the news that coach Todd Richards, was fired. Tortorella signed a 3-year-contract with the Blue Jackets and will also coach Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
He coached the Vancouver Canucks during the 2013-14 season but was fired from the team after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canucks will receive a second-round pick in the NHL draft from the Blue Jackets to serve as compensation because Tortorella was still under contract with Vancouver and was hired in-season.
In 2004, he won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning and reached the Eastern Conference Final with the New York Rangers in 2012. Tortorella leads American-born coaches with 446 NHL wins.
