After an 0-7 start, the Columbus Blue Jackets have fired coach Todd Richards and replaced him with John Tortorella. Tortorella makes his coaching debut, Thursday night, in Minnesota.
“It’s not reinventing the wheel. I’m not here to do that. We just want to try to get back to who we are," John Tortorella sad.
Tortortella, who signed a three-year contract, said getting the team back on track will be a challenge. But he said he’s up for it, and he said the players are in a position to do it.
“The most important thing is to develop an identity, and it will happen," he said.
The Blue Jackets made an NHL playoff appearance in 2013-14, but have a 0-7 start, this year. Tortorella said his focus is player confidence, not "Xs and Os."
The Jackets are on the road the next four games, and Tortorella said that’s a good time to reset.
“We need to really close ranks here as a group and just really knock this down.”
Tortorella previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning, the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks.
Richards had been with Columbus since 2012, leading the Blue Jackets to the playoffs in 2013-14, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round.
The Blue Jackets were expected to contend for a playoff spot this season. They are just the sixth team to open with seven straight losses. They were shut out 4-0 the New York Islanders on Tuesday night, and Columbus has been outscored 18-7 in the third period this season.
Tortorella most recently coached Vancouver in 2013-14. He led Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup title in 2004.
