One of the NHL's longest-tenured and winningest head coaches isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet.
Speaking publicly for the first time since parting ways with the Vegas Golden Knights, John Tortorella told Joe Smith of The Athletic that he intends to continue coaching.
"Oh, I want to coach," Tortorella said. "I want to coach now. I'm not sure if that happens, and that's where I am in my career.
But I wanted to coach that Vegas team. I told (general manager Kelly McCrimmon) that.”
Tortorella, 68, joined the team with only eight games remaining in the regular season after they suddenly fired Cup-winning head coach Bruce Cassidy. In his short stint, Tortorella led the team to a 7-0-1 record to close the year and a 12-4 record in the Western Conference playoffs, leading up to the Stanley Cup Final.
After advancing to the championship round but losing in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Golden Knights announced that Tortorella would not be returning to the team.
He was promptly replaced by Ryan Craig, who had previously coached Vegas's AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.
“I guess the word I’d use is ‘disappointed,’” Tortorella said to The Athletic. “I was honest with Kelly. We met the next morning (after Game 6).
Kelly is very honest, and he let me know within one minute of sitting down in that meeting — he basically told me, ‘Ryan Craig is coaching the team next year.’ I told him what I thought, and we had an honest conversation. I truly respect where the organization is going.
“We didn’t finish the job, and I wanted some more time with that club to try to finish the job. That’s not my call. That’s the general manager and president’s call.
You just get about your business after that.”
Despite his desire to continue coaching, the 24-year coaching vet will have to wait for a job to open up, as all vacancies