Kings might be last opening for Torts

With the dominoes beginning to fall, it sounds like a good time to take stock of what options are left for former Lightning coach John Tortorella. Torts didn't return a phone call to catch up, so it is up to us to read between the lines. First a refresher as to who is coaching where:

Panthers: Peter DeBoer; Senators: Craig Hartsburg; Sharks: Todd McLellan; Maple Leafs: Ron Wilson.

That leaves two jobs open, the Thrashers and the Kings. We learned Friday that Atlanta has asked permission to speak to Lightning assistant Mike Sullivan, presumably about the head coaching job. The Atlanta Journal Constitution also has reported the team will interview Brad McCrimmon and John Anderson. Tortorella's name has not been mentioned there in a while, though initial reports were that the Thrashers had asked permission to speak to him. Be that as it may, his name has not been mentioned with that job in a while.

That leaves the Kings of the current group of teams that fired their coaches. Maybe Jacques Demers was right after all. The former Lightning coach and current television analyst for Canada's RDS told us earlier this week that the Kings would be a perfect fit for Tortorella. A young team with some good talent and nowhere to go but up. Sounds a lot like the Lightning when Torts took over in January 2001.

And not that Tortorella minds pressure, but there wouldn't be much right away in LA, where any steps forward would be a victory and the media does not pay a whole lot of attention to hockey.

Got to also say a quick word about the Senators going with Hartsburg. A good coach, but, really, did the team not go with Torts, as the Ottawa Sun reported, because it believes Torts brash, in-your-face-style would not go over well in the locker room? This is a veteran team that can't seem to find the focus or skill to take that final step. The report in the Sun plays right into the perception that the Senators are soft.

   

Comments

[Casper]

Hartsburg is an in-your-face type, just like Coach Tortorella, so the whining from Ottawa will continue. I agree with another poster that Torts will likely 'rescue' an under-achieving bunch after the season starts.

We have some more disastous steps to endure before a decent sort with the likes of a McCrimmon can land here. (Ajax was right, it's going to get worse before it gets better.)

After Cubby Koules' debacle of Mary Melrose is played out to a loud chorus of boo's to both coach and owner, I would hope a choice between Brad McCrimmon and Dave Andreychuk (if he's interested) could start the repairs here. But first, one or both should be in our new --ahem-- "system", no? Assistant Coach or Admirals-bound should our life-preserver of a successor to Tort's successor be.

And why on Earth haven't I heard any roughage about Pat Burns? There is the guy who should be behind the bench with Melrose---to step in when we finally call for the stupid looking scalp of that media hack.

Go Bolts!

[JB]

Hartsburg is a great choice for Ottawa. He is capable of sequeezing every ounce of talent out of his lineup. Look at what he did with the Ducks and Blackhawks, two horrible clubs he somehow got into the playoffs. The one year he did coach a good team (Chicago the year before their fire sale) they nearly defeated the eventual Stanley Cup champ Avalanche in round 2 of the playoffs.

As for Torts, I hope he lands a job in LA. Perfect fit. He deserves a head coaching job after the Hell he's been put through here.

[The Voice of the Turtle]

Secorp:

Torts already served as assistant under Sullivan when the US team competed internationally a few years ago.

From what I heard, McCrimmon would already be the coach of the Thrashers if the players had their choice. Waddell likes him but seems, so far, to be resisting the appointment. Maybe he feels the team needs a bench boss with head coaching experience. Because Don is a "relationship" guy, and likes the former Bolts coach, you cannot count Torts out yet. It seems very unlikely, but one might wonder if Don might want to retain the duel role (coach/GM) himself. Some think his job is on the line in Atlanta and this coming season will be the acid test.

The LA situation is reported to be very complicated. No one seems to have much of a clue as to what is going on or why they seem to be dragging their feet. There isn't even a clear understanding of the selection timetable, and, right now, the only thing available to report is speculation like DC's note about Demers' comments. It is surprising that there doesn't seem to be a great sense of urgency about this situation. When they fired Crawford, many assumed that they had some specific new coach in mind. Maybe not!

[Secorp]

Not so sure a Canadian team is ready for an American born coach just yet.

How funny would it be to see Torts as Sullivan's assistant in Atlanta.