Bob Mcelligott Capitals Lose to Pens Again
The Columbus Blue Jackets were feeling adept about themselves.
After a disarming 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals on Dec 9, the Blue Jackets prepare their sights on ending a long losing streak to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Loonshit. It was their all-time opportunity to go a win.
Sidney Crosby was out. Evgeni Malkin was ill. Patric Hornqvist was out. Brian Dumoulin was out. There were more. The phase seemed set for the Blue Jackets to finally interruption through.
Except for 1 affair. They played perhaps their worst game overall in a very long time. The Penguins dominated the Blueish Jackets on this night. And yet, nobody scored in regulation. The Bluish Jackets did get a point. Just in overtime, Bryan Rust scored a ability-play goal to lift the depleted Penguins to a 1-0 overtime win. There are good points. There are bad points. This point was ugly with a capital U.
If anyone has followed the coaching career of John Tortorella, they knew that his postgame presser was going to be must-run into TV. Information technology was going to be curt. It was going to feature an upset Tortorella giving very brusque answers. In that sense, he did not disappoint.
"I don't take any words to describe it," Tortorella said three different times. You could tell he was upset at the operation. If you lot were a Blue Jackets' fan watching the game, you were probably upset. It was a terrible functioning for a squad who but trounce the all-time team in the NHL by three goals on their domicile ice.
Tortorella spoke for near a minute. This is where the story begins. When information technology comes to Tortorella, there seems to be a great split up about who he is and the fashion he handles his business.
The Great Divide
On i hand, you have those that are skeptics. "Oh there he goes again being short during his presser. Same old Torts." No thing what happens, when they see something like this, they pounce.
On the other hand, y'all take those that appreciate him. They empathize what happened and why he did this postgame.
Let'due south clear something up correct now. Tortorella is not only a inverse man, he'south a great man. He'southward an even better coach. Many of you are probably going to laugh at this and ridicule it. But if you practice, you testify that you don't know the man Tortorella has become. Let'south show you why Tortorella is the best thing to ever happen to Columbus from a coaching standpoint and more.
Revisiting Pittsburgh
Let's get-go revisit that press conference in Pittsburgh. From the outside, it gave the advent of beingness brusque and uncalled for. But a further look at this indicates the real story. Tortorella was embarrassed for the organization. He said equally much the next twenty-four hour period in Pittsburgh.
"It'due south the most embarrassed I've been for this arrangement," Tortorella said. "This isn't just about players. It's about an arrangement. I'1000 embarrassed for the organization."
This explains why he was upset. He had the squad and organization in mind. He merely witnessed his team put upward an embarrassing effort. He wasn't sure why it happened. His triple "I don't accept any words to describe information technology" said everything you needed to know near the game itself. What else does he have to say that you don't already know?
In a time where many coaches use cliches and don't get that emotional, Tortorella remains honest, even when he doesn't have much to say. In by times, yous've seen the antics he pulled on reporters. If there is one surface area he has changed in, he doesn't do that stuff anymore.
Tortorella knows he made several mistakes in his career. Before he was hired in Columbus, he wasn't sure if he'd get another opportunity to motorcoach. If he did get that chance, he had to change. Give him credit. He has inverse.
We demand to continue something in mind with Tortorella and the way he does business. In that location'southward 1 pattern in play. He'south usually thoughtful and honest in most situations. The times where he'southward not are the times where his team's try isn't there. He can tolerate a lot. He cannot tolerate a lack of attempt.
That game in Pittsburgh was a complete lack in try he had no answer for. And then the next day he opened up more outside of the heat of the moment. This was about the team. It was never about him trying to concenter attention.
Now that we run across he has changed, nosotros need to focus on who he is now. The skeptics recollect he'south a horrible coach. They see his career as a whole and all the things that have happened and wonder how he even has a job. Well he's a keen jitney that's why he has a job.
A Great Coach
Tortorella has a Stanley Cup. Tortorella has two Jack Adams' awards. He's the winningest U.S. born head motorcoach in NHL history. Many players around the league say he's the best head coach they've e'er had. And yet one of his all-time works might be in progress this flavor in Columbus.
Yes he has taken the Blueish Jackets to three consecutive playoffs, something the team has never done earlier. But this season, given all the losses and challenges they've had, Tortorella has the Blueish Jackets at over hockey 500 as we arroyo Christmas. That'south an amazing coaching chore. The Blue Jackets take nine regulars out of their lineup.
Has he been perfect? Not at all. This isn't saying everything he touches turns to gilded, far from information technology actually. But when you lack overall talent like this, you have to modify the approach. The Blue Jackets did that and are in position to fight for the playoffs despite the critics. As much every bit Tortorella gets blame when things are bad, he deserves credit when things are good.
Tortorella not only deserves full credit for this season being n of hockey 500, simply this flavour deserves consideration equally one of his best yet. Tin can yous imagine if this squad makes the playoffs? Aye.
Forthcoming Tortorella
Permit's revisit Tortorella's honesty and thoughtfulness. There's a perception out there that the media is "scared" of him. That couldn't be further from the truth. He has his way. But the cardinal is asking skilful questions. The better the question, the better the response usually. While there are times his pressers are a minute, in that location are many more than that are ten-15 minutes or fifty-fifty longer.
When he's non doing that, he makes two appearances a calendar week on other formats where he's very forthcoming. First is Hockey and Hounds on the Blue Jackets flagship 97.1 the Fan. Tortorella joins hosts Anthony Rothman and Bobby Carpenter and they talk over hockey and dogs. This gives a corking perspective into one of Tortorella'south passions in life, rescue animals. Take a mind below.
The other thing Tortorella does on a weekly basis is "Time Out with Torts." This is a new thing this flavor where nosotros get around twenty minutes of the most forthcoming Tortorella you lot'll ever hear. He opens upwardly not only about hockey, but about annihilation else he wants to talk about. It's normally must-listen stuff. Radio voice of the Blueish Jackets Bob McElligott gets the honor of hosting this. You tin listen to the latest one below.
Time to Retire Bad Narratives
The fourth dimension has come to put to residuum the bad narratives that seem to follow Tortorella around. He'south passionate. He cares deeply almost his squad. He's in the midst of one of his best coaching jobs ever. He's not the same erstwhile Torts.
He's one of the greatest head coaches in NHL history. He's also i of the great people in the sport if you get to meet him. His passion for animals is awesome. He's more than only a great bus. He's a great man and an even amend person.
And then the next fourth dimension you remember of one of Tortorella'due south old rants, think about the touch on he's currently having on an NHL team in primal Ohio. He's turning immature men into leaders and better hockey players while y'all're nonetheless thinking about former news.
Tortorella'due south touch on to the Blue Jackets volition never be forgotten. He's the greatest bus they've ever had. And ane twenty-four hour period, he'll accept his rightful identify in the Hockey Hall of Fame as ane of the greatest of all time. And however, he'southward an even better person. That's the real John Tortorella.
I am a fully credentialed writer who covers the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cleveland Monsters and Erie Otters likewise as the Ontario Hockey League and NHL Draft. The 2021-22 season will mark viii seasons with the Hockey Writers. I am also the site's Credentials Manager.
Source: https://thehockeywriters.com/john-tortorella-great-coach-even-better-man-columbus-blue-jackets/
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