In a recent interview on the Nasty Knuckles podcast, former Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa revealed that himself, along with the Sedin twins, went to management and wanted them to keep Tortorella as the team's head coach after the 2013-14 season.
There's no doubt that John Tortorella is hard to play for and for some players, they thrive off a coach who is hard on them, but for others, it's not their cup of tea. For Bieksa and the Sedin twins to give their vote of confidence in him to the Canucks' management shows the type of people they are and that they truly believed he was the right coach for the team.
Tortorella was hired in 2013 as a replacement for the winningest-coach in Vancouver Canucks franchise history, Alain Vigneault. During his single season behind the Canucks' bench, Tortorella led the team to a 36-35-11 record, which had them finish fifth in the Pacific Division, marking the first time in six years that they failed to make the post-season.
The Boston native would go on to spend six seasons behind the bench with the Columbus Blue Jackets, before being not being brought back following the 2021 season. Currently, Tortorella is in his second season with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Do you wish John Tortorella remained with the Canucks for more than just one season? Let us know what you think in the poll below.
Source - Noah Strang/Daily Hive: "We love the guy": Bieksa and Sedins told Canucks to keep Tortorella
POLL | ||
AVRIL 10 | 823 ANSWERS Bieksa makes a heavy revelation on Tortorella's tenure in Vancouver Do you wish John Tortorella remained with the Canucks for more than just one season? | ||
Yes | 201 | 24.4 % |
No | 622 | 75.6 % |
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