The Columbus Blue Jackets have come to terms with head coach John Tortorella on a one-year contract extension that will see him remain behind the bench through the 2018-19 NHL season.
Tortorella first joined the Blue Jackets on Oct. 21, 2015, replacing Todd Richards. In 75 games under the 59-year-old, Columbus went 34-33-8 and missed the playoffs in 2015-16. However, Tortorella was able to lead the Blue Jackets back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 this past season with a 50-24-8 record, buoyed by a 16-game winning streak that ran from Nov. 29-Jan. 3.
He won the Jack Adams Award this year for the dramatic one-season turnaround he helped enact, despite falling in just five games in the first round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“John Tortorella and his coaching staff have done a terrific job since his arrival nearly two years ago,” said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen in a statement. “He is one of the top coaches in our game and we are excited about what lies ahead for our club with John as our head coach.”
Columbus is the fourth NHL club Tortorella has had the opportunity to coach. He’s coached the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks in the past, winning a Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004.
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