John Tortorella speaks out for the first time and confirms why he took the Golden Knights job
Photo credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
This evening, new Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella spoke to the media and explained why he took the Vegas job with so little time left in the season and no future stability.
Over the weekend, the Vegas Golden Knights made the shocking decision to fire head coach Bruce Cassidy and replace him with John Tortorella.
The move came as a shock because the Golden Knights are in a playoff spot with just 8 games left in the season.
Add on the fact that Tortorella was made no future guarantees about being the team’s head coach next year and the decision for the veteran head coach becomes even more puzzling.
Tonight, Tortorella explained himself and discussed in detail why he decided to join Vegas for the playoff run.
John Tortorella discusses why he took the Golden Knights job and what he can do to fix the team
First, Tortorella confirmed what many expected that the players and the incredibly high potential of the locker room in Vegas was a big factor in his decision to take the job.
I know the room that’s one of the more impressive things for me in coming here to Vegas. I know it’s a strong room laden with playoff tested players. Let’s face it the organization is a really great organization top to bottom.
Tortorella was asked next about what he would like to see changed immediately about the way the Golden Knights as the playoff push tightens.
I have some points I want to bring I want to see us play faster. Everyone wants to play fast it’s an easy thing to say but I think that comes into mindset also.
As for what else has been a problem, Tortorella mentions slow starts and hints at the Golden Knights needing a higher compete level.
I haven’t diagnosed the problems yet it’s a tough one to diagnose. The biggest part of hockey now isn’t the X’s and O’s I do think it’s your mind. I think they’ve been told a few times this year about their starts not being good enough.
It seems that Tortorella has been hired this season solely based on his motivational style and ability to increase players’ efforts at both ends of the ice quickly.
Tortorella seems confident he can get the Golden Knights going with a sharper attacking attitude and do just enough to get them in a good place to compete for the Stanley Cup.
Only time will be able to tell if Tortorella is all talk or if he can back up his high expectations for the Golden Knights in what could be his only season at the helm.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 30|289 ANSWERS John Tortorella speaks out for the first time and confirms why he took the Golden Knights job Do you think the Vegas Golden Knights will go further in the playoffs with John Tortorella as head coach? | ||
| Yes | 90 | 31.1 % |
| No | 199 | 68.9 % |
| List of polls | ||