Former New York Rangers coach John Tortorella was let go by the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday after three seasons with the team. This has sparked immediate speculation in New York about whether the Rangers should consider replacing Peter Laviolette with the coach who led them from 2009 to 2013.
Tortorella is a divisive figure—known for being abrasive, no-nonsense, combative, yet effective.
He led the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first Stanley Cup title in 2004 and ranks ninth in NHL history with 770 career wins. Among U.S.-born coaches, only Laviolette has more wins, sitting seventh overall with 841.
With the Rangers, Tortorella secured 171 wins, placing him fifth in franchise history, and his .583 points percentage ranks sixth-best in team history.
Tortorella initially took over the Rangers’ coaching role for the final four games of the 1999-2000 season after John Muckler’s firing. He returned in 2007-08 after Tom Renney’s dismissal. In his 319 regular-season games with the Rangers, he posted a 171-118-29 record with one tie. He also led the Rangers to the 2012 Eastern Conference Final, where they lost in six games to the New Jersey Devils. Tortorella had a 19-25 record in 44 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the team.
He was dismissed after the 2013 playoffs when players voiced dissatisfaction with his coaching in exit interviews.
Since then, Tortorella has coached the Vancouver Canucks (for one controversial season), the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Flyers.
Now, at 66 years old, and 12 years removed from being let go by the Rangers, the question arises: would a return to New York be a good move for Tortorella?
