History of John Tortorella in Timeline

John Tortorella is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player currently serving as the head coach for the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL. His extensive coaching career includes head coaching positions with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers. Notably, Tortorella led the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup in 2004.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

June 24, 1958: John Tortorella's birth

On June 24, 1958, John Tortorella was born. He is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player.

Others born on this day/year

1976: Hall of Fame Induction

In 1976, John Tortorella was listed on Concord-Carlisle High School's athletic Hall of Fame wall.

1978: College Hockey Career at University of Maine

In 1978, John Tortorella began playing right wing for the University of Maine, a career that lasted for three years.

1981: End of College Hockey Career at University of Maine

In 1981, John Tortorella ended playing right wing for the University of Maine, after three years.

1981: Plays Hockey in Sweden

In 1981, after college, John Tortorella went to Sweden to play a year on Kristianstads IK.

1982: Returns to the United States to play in the ACHL

In 1982, after a season in Sweden, John Tortorella returned to the United States to play four years of minor professional ice hockey in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL).

1986: End of Playing Career

In 1986, John Tortorella ended his playing career after four years in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.

1988: Contribution to the ECHL Name

In 1988, John Tortorella is credited with coming up with the name for the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) during a meeting.

1996: Calder Cup win with Rochester Americans

In 1996, John Tortorella won the Calder Cup with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL).

1996: Lightning Crack 60-Point Barrier

In the season after John Tortorella took over, the team finished well out of playoff contention despite finishing third in the Southeast Division. However, they showed signs of life for the first time in five years, cracking the 60-point barrier for the first time since 1996.

1999: First head coaching chance

In 1999, John Tortorella got his first head coaching chance when John Muckler was fired with four games left in the 1999-2000 season for the New York Rangers.

April 1, 2000: First Game as Head Coach

On April 1, 2000, John Tortorella coached his first game as a professional head coach for the New York Rangers, which ended in a 2-2 tie against the Boston Bruins.

January 2001: Took over Tampa Bay Lightning

In January 2001, John Tortorella took over the Tampa Bay Lightning as a midseason head coach replacement.

2002: First Winning Season

In 2002–03 season marked John Tortorella's first winning season as an NHL head coach.

2003: Southeast Division Title and Jack Adams Award Nomination

In 2003, John Tortorella's Lightning won their first Southeast Division title, and he was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award.

2003: Southeast Division Title

In the 2003–04 season, Tortorella's Lightning ran away with the Southeast Division title, tallying 106 points.

2004: Stanley Cup win and Jack Adams Award

In 2004, John Tortorella won the Stanley Cup as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. A few days later, in 2004, he won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.

2005: Goaltender Issues

Before the start of the 2005–06 season, Tampa Bay's starting goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin left the team due to salary cap restrictions. Tortorella was hard on Lightning goaltender John Grahame for much of the 2005–06 season.

2006: Grahame signed with the Carolina Hurricanes

In 2006, John Grahame signed with the Carolina Hurricanes before the start of the 2006-07 season.

March 11, 2008: Most Successful American-Born NHL Coach

On March 11, 2008, John Tortorella passed Bob Johnson as the most successful American-born NHL coach with 235 victories after the Lightning's 8-4 win over the New York Islanders.

November 7, 2008: Laviolette Overtakes Victory Total

On November 7, 2008, while John Tortorella was an in-studio panelist on the NHL on TSN, Peter Laviolette overtook his victory total for an American coach.

2008: Assistant Coach of the United States National Team

In 2008, John Tortorella served as an assistant coach for the United States national team, succeeding Peter Laviolette. He also led the team at the 2008 World Championship, where they finished sixth.

2008: Canucks Missed the Playoffs

In 2014 John Tortorella's tenure with the Canucks would last only a single season, as the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

February 23, 2009: Named Head Coach of the New York Rangers

On February 23, 2009, John Tortorella was named head coach of the New York Rangers, replacing Tom Renney.

2009: Assistant Coach of the United States National Team

In 2009, John Tortorella served as an assistant coach for the United States national team

2009: Rivalry with Laviolette

In 2009, when Laviolette became coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, the rivalry between the two teams became further heated with Tortorella and Laviolette being the winningest U.S.-born coaches in NHL history.

November 20, 2010: First American-Born Coach to Reach 300 NHL Wins

On November 20, 2010, John Tortorella became the first American-born coach to reach 300 NHL victories when the Rangers defeated the Minnesota Wild.

2011: Guided the Rangers to the franchise's third ever 50-win season

In the 2011–12 season John Tortorella guided the Rangers to the franchise's third ever 50-win season and the best record in the Eastern Conference with a total of 51–24–7 for 109 points.

March 26, 2013: Reaches 400 Career Victories

On March 26, 2013, with a 5–2 defeat of Laviolette's Flyers, John Tortorella became the 30th NHL coach to reach 400 career victories.

May 29, 2013: Fired by the Rangers

On May 29, 2013, John Tortorella was fired by the New York Rangers after being eliminated from the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

June 25, 2013: Named Coach of the Vancouver Canucks

On June 25, 2013, John Tortorella was announced as the new coach of the Vancouver Canucks, replacing Alain Vigneault.

October 5, 2013: First Victory with the Canucks

On October 5, 2013, John Tortorella earned his first victory with the Vancouver Canucks against the Edmonton Oilers, with a final score of 6–2.

January 18, 2014: Suspension for Dressing Room Incident

On January 18, 2014, during the first intermission of a game, John Tortorella entered the Calgary Flames dressing room area and had to be restrained. He was subsequently suspended by the NHL for 15 days without pay.

March 2, 2014: Controversy Sparked by Goaltender Choice

On March 2, 2014, John Tortorella sparked controversy when he chose to start Eddie Läck in the 2014 Heritage Classic held in Vancouver over Roberto Luongo.

May 1, 2014: Fired by the Canucks

On May 1, 2014, John Tortorella and assistant coach Mike Sullivan were fired by the Vancouver Canucks.

October 21, 2015: Hired as Blue Jackets' Head Coach

On October 21, 2015, John Tortorella was hired to replace Todd Richards as the Columbus Blue Jackets' head coach.

March 19, 2016: Coached 1,000 NHL Games

On March 19, 2016, John Tortorella became the 26th head coach in NHL history, and the first born in the United States, to coach 1,000 games when the Blue Jackets faced the New Jersey Devils.

December 18, 2016: 500th Victory and Second Jack Adams Award

On December 18, 2016, John Tortorella became the first American-born coach with 500 victories when the Blue Jackets defeated the Canucks. His success in the 2016–17 season resulted in his second Jack Adams Award.

2016: Coached US at World Cup of Hockey

In 2016, John Tortorella coached the United States at the World Cup of Hockey. The team failed to advance past the group stage, losing all three games. Prior to the tournament, he stated he would bench any player who protested during the national anthem.

2017: Blue Jackets Compensation

In 2017, as compensation for hiring John Tortorella, the Vancouver Canucks received the 55th overall pick (used to select Jonah Gadjovich) in the 2017 NHL entry draft from the Blue Jackets.

January 10, 2019: Reaches 600 Wins

On January 10, 2019, John Tortorella became the first American-born coach, and 19th overall, to reach 600 victories when the Blue Jackets defeated the Nashville Predators.

December 29, 2019: Clock Mishandling Controversy

On December 29, 2019, officials mishandled the clock in overtime, causing the Blue Jackets to lose 3–2 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

2019: Return of the goaltender rotation system

In the 2019-20 NHL season, John Tortorella brought back the system of regularly rotating goaltending duties, with the emergence of Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzļikins as the goaltender tandem for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

January 2, 2020: Fined for Comments About Officials

On January 2, 2020, John Tortorella was fined $20,000 by the NHL for negative comments about the on-ice officials.

August 25, 2020: Additional Fine for Media Availability Actions

On August 25, 2020, John Tortorella was fined an additional $25,000 for his actions during virtual media availability following the Blue Jackets' elimination from the playoff bubble by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

May 9, 2021: Parted Ways with the Blue Jackets

On May 9, 2021, John Tortorella agreed to mutually part ways with the Columbus Blue Jackets after the expiration of his contract.

June 17, 2022: Named Head Coach of Philadelphia Flyers

On June 17, 2022, John Tortorella was named the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers after working as a studio analyst on ESPN during the 2021-22 season.

December 29, 2023: Coached 1,500th NHL Game

On December 29, 2023, John Tortorella coached his 1,500th NHL regular-season game, becoming the eighth head coach in NHL history and the first American-born coach to achieve this milestone.

2023: Ninth All-Time in Wins

As of the end of the 2023 season, John Tortorella is ninth all-time in wins with 742.

March 9, 2024: Ejection and Suspension

On March 9, 2024, John Tortorella was ejected from a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after a verbal dispute with referees. He stalled on the bench, leading to a two-game suspension and a $50,000 fine the following day.

March 27, 2025: Dismissal as Flyers' Head Coach

On March 27, 2025, John Tortorella was dismissed as the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers and replaced by Brad Shaw.

March 29, 2026: Named Head Coach of Vegas Golden Knights

On March 29, 2026, John Tortorella was named the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights after Bruce Cassidy was fired. In his debut, the team won 4–2 against the Vancouver Canucks. He led the team to a 7–0–1 record and clinched the Pacific Division title.

2026: Winter Olympics Gold Medal

In 2026, John Tortorella served as Mike Sullivan's assistant during the Winter Olympics, where the United States won gold medals after defeating Canada 2–1 in overtime.