Tortorella seems headed for TSN

[Jester47]

From the Times Blog..

Torts When I wrote last week that former Lightning coach John Tortorella would be a great television analyst, I was just throwing it out there for the sake of argument. Now, it seems, he really might take such a job.

Andrea Goldstein, spokesperson for Canadian sports giant TSN, (think ESPN north of the border) said the network has "no announcement at this time," but hiring Tortorella is "on our radar."

If it ultimately happens, it seems a nice fit. Tortorella, who most recently interviewed for the Islanders head coaching spot, is smart about the game and can be incredibly engaging, and he certainly has opinions. He also has a lot of cred in Canada, having led Tampa Bay to the 2004 Stanley Cup title and earning league coach of the year honors. No word on how many days Torts, who still has a home in the area, would have to be in Canada or exactly what his duties would entail. Would also assume there would be a clause in his contract to allow him to leave for any coaching vacancy that might come up.

It all will come out when things are finalized one way or another, perhaps in a week or two. The first Lightning game TSN is scheduled to show: Oct. 28 when Tampa Bay goes to Toronto.

[Evan]

They are going to have to broadcast all the games on a 10 second profanity delay if they hire him.

[Puckhead]

They are going to have to broadcast all the games on a 10 second profanity delay if they hire him.

kinda funny....but I don't think he'll get that worked up when watching guys he isn't responsible for or coaching...

Just think, if Gruden was the Bolts coach, we'd hear the stuff even more clearly and often. I love reading his lips....HA!!!

[Hoek]

I was hoping he'd be on American TV, but if he can bring some common sense to Canadian media perhaps that'd be a good thing. :p

[Sotnos]

I'm sure it's not the job he really wants, but he'll be excellent IMO.

[Dman21]

I was hoping he'd be on American TV, but if he can bring some common sense to Canadian media perhaps that'd be a good thing. :p

It's going to take a lot more that Tortorella to bring common sense to the Canadian media. (No offense PEI.) Hopefully he can get them to beleive we really do understand and know the game of hockey.

[TexasBolt]

I'm hoping he and Bob McKenzie get into a fistfight in the studio at some point.

[missK]

Looks like Torts and Chicken Parm together on TSN.

Tortorella likely to add colour to TSN's hockey coverage

John Tortorella is taking his fiery personality to television, where he will work as a studio analyst on TSN's hockey telecasts this season. As the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tortorella had a reputation for being passionate, outspoken and aggressive - traits that landed him in trouble from time to time, but should help make him a colourful TV commentator.

Still, if viewers are expecting the behaviour we saw during some of Tortorella's postgame interviews, they've got the wrong guy, he said this week. "I'm not going to be some lunatic on TV, criticizing everything," he said. "I'll give my opinion, but this is about talking hockey and a game that I love."



Globe & Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080904.TRUTH04/TPStory/TPSports/?page=rss&id=..TRUTH04)

[timothy]

Torts speaks his mind about new ownership on OTT radio station:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/lightning/2008/09/tortorella-lets.html

[Flycoon]

Torts speaks his mind about new ownership on OTT radio station:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/lightning/2008/09/tortorella-lets.html

Bitter little man. Glad he is gone.

[PEIBolt]

I'm looking forward to Torts on the air. I think his temperment is blown way out of proportion. He'll be fine.

[Sotnos]

I'm looking forward to Torts on the air. I think his temperment is blown way out of proportion. He'll be fine.
Agreed. I think, as it says in this quote, that a lot of people will be expecting a sideshow and that's NOT going to happen.

He said people may be surprised at how he comes across. He said he is not going to rip into people, and said he told TSN not to expect that kind of sideshow.

I think he'll be great & plan to tune in as often as I can.

[matt24]

Bitter little man. Glad he is gone.

I'll 2nd that!!!! Way to go out classy.

[Bolthed]

Bitter about how he, Boyle and Richards went out? Sure, you bet. Can ya blame any of them? It's because of that I don't have any problem with him calling them "cowboys." That's just the same Torts - a guy who doesn't hold back his sharp tongue and is now on a national stage. He'll do well on TV until he gets another bench gig.

But his take on Kuba is pretty suspect. I'm sorry, the guy is just not in the same class as Meszaros. And anyone who suggests that is spinning something.

It'll be VERY interesting to monitor Torts' analysis this season and to listen closely for any anti-Tampa bias, which I'm sure would not only play well north of the border but be encouraged by his bosses and cohorts.

[WaiverWire]

It is also that sharp tongue that may very well had kept him from being behind the bench with another team this year.

[Dman21]

It is also that sharp tongue that may very well had kept him from being behind the bench with another team this year.

I agree with you WW. Why was there so many head coaching jobs available and Torts was not considered a front running candidate for them. He got an interview as was to be expected,but was never given the job. I wonder why?:ohmy:

[matt24]

Bitter about how he, Boyle and Richards went out? Sure, you bet. Can ya blame any of them? It's because of that I don't have any problem with him calling them "cowboys." That's just the same Torts - a guy who doesn't hold back his sharp tongue and is now on a national stage. He'll do well on TV until he gets another bench gig.

He was fired for poor performance, period... It's not 2004 anymore. And I suppose I'd be bitter if I just got canned from a team I coached that never had owners quite like these guys. Owners that want to win and understand it takes money. Owners that actually want accountability all the way down the line, not just the players but coaches as well. Torts never had anyone hold him accountable the entire time he was here, except maybe the short time when Dudley was still here. So yes he sounds very bitter and sounds like he's jealous as well......

[PEIBolt]

He was fired for poor performance, period... It's not 2004 anymore. And I suppose I'd be bitter if I just got canned from a team I coached that never had owners quite like these guys. Owners that want to win and understand it takes money. Owners that actually want accountability all the way down the line, not just the players but coaches as well. Torts never had anyone hold him accountable the entire time he was here, except maybe the short time when Dudley was still here. So yes he sounds very bitter and sounds like he's jealous as well......

The team was allowed to, essentially, disintegrate, after the Cup win by the old ownership. I'm not saying Torts deserved to stay but the decline over the past couple of years was certainly not entirely of his own doing.

[Sotnos]

The team was allowed to, essentially, disintegrate, after the Cup win by the old ownership. I'm not saying Torts deserved to stay but the decline over the past couple of years was certainly not entirely of his own doing.
Agreed.

[WaiverWire]

But he was not smart enough to try and change his style of play when things went bad. He would mix up the lines, but he was unable or unwilling to try another system.

[CupChamps2004]

But he was not smart enough to try and change his style of play when things went bad. He would mix up the lines, but he was unable or unwilling to try another system.

Exactly.

[pete]

The team was allowed to, essentially, disintegrate, after the Cup win by the old ownership. I'm not saying Torts deserved to stay but the decline over the past couple of years was certainly not entirely of his own doing.

And if Boyle hadn't dropped a skate on his wrist, the Lightning might well have made the playoffs.

[Dman21]

There is a short response in today's tbt* times form Barrie to Torts. "What were there, nine openings for coaches? That's why he's working for TV. I'll be sure to wear my cowboy hat for the first game." I'm glad how he took time to respond and in a pretty comical way. Good luck Torts finding a coaching job in the next few years. I think he is on the proverbial "shit list" for coaches. Just my opinion.

[Puckhead]

There is a short response in today's tbt* times form Barrie to Torts. "What were there, nine openings for coaches? That's why he's working for TV. I'll be sure to wear my cowboy hat for the first game." I'm glad how he took time to respond and in a pretty comical way. Good luck Torts finding a coaching job in the next few years. I think he is on the proverbial "shit list" for coaches. Just my opinion.

LB is quite the character (as is OK)....This ride is gonna be anything but boring.....whew.....

DROP THE PUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bolthed]

And thank god for that. Davidson/Wilson/Campbell/Feaster was a snooze-fest of apathy and ineffectiveness.

[Sotnos]

As has been pointed out by people besides me, what was the last job of Barries' current choice of coach? Hmm. He didn't think this one through too carefully.

Whatever. I hope I never have to hear how Torts is the only "classless" one involved after that response.

[Bolthed]

I think the point is that both of them are acting like children ... and they're doing it in the media. And yes, you are apt to point out Barry Melrose's job for the previous 13 years.

To me, the bottom line is that with Melrose in Tampa feeding the media monster (and probably making the Lightning into ESPN's favorite little non-NYC/Boston/Pitt team), and with Tortorella doing his thing in Canada, and with a star-studded roster, the Bolts are primed to be an absolute media dream!

[timothy]

Which could very well be what the Sundin rumors are... just a PR method to keep the team in the papers and on the tips of the blogger's tongues.

[matt24]

And if Boyle hadn't dropped a skate on his wrist, the Lightning might well have made the playoffs.

And if a frog had wings it wouldnt bump its ass when it hops.... Are you freaking serious? One player does not make a team...... Even your love child Boyle.

[matt24]

The team was allowed to, essentially, disintegrate, after the Cup win by the old ownership. I'm not saying Torts deserved to stay but the decline over the past couple of years was certainly not entirely of his own doing.


I never said it was 100% his fault......

[Avery86]

And if a frog had wings it wouldnt bump its ass when it hops.... Are you freaking serious? One player does not make a team...... Even your love child Boyle.

I'm pretty sure that's not the point he's trying to make ...

[The Great Zo]

Maybe not, but I'm also pretty sure that Boyle returning would not have bumped the team 14 places in the standings.

[Sotnos]

And if a frog had wings it wouldnt bump its ass when it hops.... Are you freaking serious? One player does not make a team...... Even your love child Boyle.
Is it that hard to imagine? Boyle getting hurt produced a snowball effect with everyone on D having to move up a slot.

[pete]

Are you freaking serious?

They lost a veteran defenseman capable of playing 28 minutes a night which left them to play 4 d-men 24-25+ minutes a night, two of whom (Ranger and O'Brien) were incredibly young and wilted over the course of the season.

So, yes, I'm as freaking serious as cancer.

[the_narrow_way]

The freak Boyle injury was huge last season. It started the trend for the troops losing their willpower early, and then more and more crap kept piling up, like the dragging-on of the sale of the team.

[pete]

They actually played well to start the season. For about a month to a month and a half Paul Ranger was stepping up and filling Boyle's skates admirably. However, that's a tough thing to ask a 23 year old defenseman to do for 82 games, and he wilted.

[Sotnos]

They actually played well to start the season.I think people forget already that the team had a great start last season.

[pete]

I think people forget already that the team had a great start last season.

Paul Ranger looked like a friggin' world beater the first 20 games last season. I hope the experience he gained helps him sustain it this season, because he's the guy, along with Carle, who is going to have to step up the most for this team to have a prayer of making the playoffs if Lawton and Co. don't get some veteran help on the blueline.

[CTLightning26]

I think people forget already that the team had a great start last season.

I know. I left Tampa at 3-0 last October.
:noidea:

[bassassin]

Paul Ranger looked like a friggin' world beater the first 20 games last season.

Didnt he get injured after that? Or was it later in the season?

[missK]

Didnt he get injured after that? Or was it later in the season?

You are right, Paul got hurt right around that time.