Career Timeline of John Tortorella: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how John Tortorella made an impact.

John Tortorella is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player, most recently with the Philadelphia Flyers. Known for his demanding coaching style and outspoken personality, Tortorella has coached multiple NHL teams, including the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and Columbus Blue Jackets. His most notable achievement is leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup championship in 2004.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1981: Played for Kristianstads IK

After college, in 1981, John Tortorella went to Sweden to play a year on Kristianstads IK.

1982: Played in the ACHL

In 1982, John Tortorella came back to the United States to play four years of minor professional ice hockey in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL).

1986: End of ACHL Career

In 1986, John Tortorella finished his four-year run playing in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL).

1988: Inaugural ECHL season

In 1988, prior to the East Coast Hockey League's inaugural season, John Tortorella left his position as head coach of the Virginia Lancers to become the assistant coach of the American Hockey League's New Haven Nighthawks.

1996: Finished last in the division

Before Tortorella arrived at Tampa Bay, the team hadn't cracked the 60-point barrier since the 1996–97 season. When he arrived, they finished last in the division.

1996: Won Calder Cup

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

2000: Took Over Lightning Midseason

In 2000–01, John Tortorella took over the Tampa Bay Lightning as a midseason head coach replacement. He inherited a struggling team that had been performing poorly for four years.

2002: First Winning Season

The 2002–03 season marked John Tortorella's first winning season as an NHL head coach with the Lightning.

2003: Southeast Division Title and Jack Adams Award Nomination

In 2003, John Tortorella's Lightning won their first Southeast Division title and lost to the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the playoffs. He was also a finalist for the Jack Adams Award.

2003: Southeast Division Title

In 2003-04, Tortorella's Lightning secured the Southeast Division title with 106 points, ranking second in the league.

2004: Stanley Cup Championship

In 2004, John Tortorella led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup championship.

2004: Stanley Cup and Jack Adams Award

In 2004, John Tortorella's Lightning won the Stanley Cup against the Calgary Flames, making him the third American-born coach to achieve this. He also won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.

2005: Khabibulin Leaves Team

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

2006: Grahame Signed with Hurricanes

Before the start of the 2006–07 season, Grahame subsequently signed with the Carolina Hurricanes.

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

On March 11, 2008, with the Lightning's defeat of the New York Islanders, John Tortorella surpassed Bob Johnson as the most successful American-born NHL coach with 235 victories.

November 7, 2008: Laviolette Overtook Victory Total

On November 7, 2008, Peter Laviolette surpassed John Tortorella's victory total for an American coach. Tortorella was working as an in-studio panelist on the NHL on TSN at the time, after getting fired by the Lightning in the off-season.

2008: Assistant Coach for US Men's National Ice Hockey Team

In 2008, John Tortorella became the assistant coach of the United States men's national ice hockey team, succeeding Peter Laviolette. This role included leading the team at the 2008 IIHF World Championship.

2008: Canucks missed playoffs

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 New York Rangers

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

2009: Assistant Coach for US Men's National Ice Hockey Team

In 2009, John Tortorella continued as the assistant coach of the United States men's national ice hockey team.

2009: Rivalry with Laviolette Heated

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 Victories

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 Rangers to best record in Eastern Conference

During the 2011-12 season, John Tortorella guided the New York Rangers to their third-ever 50-win season and the best record in the Eastern Conference with 51 wins.

March 26, 2013: First U.S.-Born Coach to Reach 400 Career Victories

On March 26, 2013, with a 5–2 defeat of Laviolette's Flyers, John Tortorella became the first U.S.-born 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, four days after the team was eliminated from the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Boston Bruins.

June 25, 2013: Named Coach of Vancouver Canucks

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

October 5, 2013: First Victory with 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.

May 1, 2014: Fired by the Canucks

On May 1, 2014, John Tortorella and assistant coach Mike Sullivan were fired from the Vancouver Canucks as part of a management overhaul.

October 21, 2015: Hired by Columbus Blue Jackets

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

March 19, 2016: Coached 1,000 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.

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

On December 18, 2016, John Tortorella achieved his 500th victory as the first American-born coach and won his second Jack Adams Award for his success in the 2016-17 season.

2016: Coaching Team USA at the World Cup of Hockey

In 2016, John Tortorella coached Team USA at the World Cup of Hockey. Before the tournament, he stated he would "sit" any player who protested during the national anthem. The team lost all three games and failed to advance from the group stage.

2017: Vancouver Canucks Received Draft Pick

In 2017, As compensation for hiring 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: 600th Victory Reached

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.

2019: Return to Goaltender Rotation System

In the 2019–20 NHL season, John Tortorella returned to using a regularly rotating goaltending system with the Columbus Blue Jackets, utilizing Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzļikins as a goaltender tandem.

May 9, 2021: Parted Ways with Blue Jackets

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

2021: Studio Analyst on ESPN

In the 2021–22 season, John Tortorella worked as a studio analyst on ESPN.

June 17, 2022: Named Head Coach of Philadelphia Flyers

On June 17, 2022, John Tortorella was named the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.

December 29, 2023: Coached 1,500th NHL Regular Season 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 reach the mark.

March 9, 2024: Ejection from game against Tampa Bay Lightning

On March 9, 2024, John Tortorella was ejected from a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after a verbal altercation with referees Wes McCauley and Brandon Schrader. He delayed leaving the Flyers bench, prolonging the dispute.

March 27, 2025: Dismissal as Flyers' Head Coach

On March 27, 2025, John Tortorella was dismissed from his position as the head coach of the Flyers and was replaced by Brad Shaw, who previously served as the associate coach.