Two weeks after his dismissal, some interesting details have emerged about John Tortorella’s short-lived tenure as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
According to Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail, Tortorella wanted the Canucks to buy out forward Alexandre Burrows.
Burrows is one year into a four-year, $18-million contract and had one of the least productive season as a pro under the guidance of Tortorella. The 33-year-old battled multiple injuries last season, finishing with just five goals, 10 assists and a minus-9 rating in only 49 games.
Mason also reports that Tortorella never spoke with Travis Green, head coach of Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.
Mason also added that players felt the former Canucks coach wasn’t holding enough team practices.
After parts of five seasons coaching the New York Rangers, Tortorella signed a five-year contract with the team last summer, but was fired on May 1 following a disappointing season for the Canucks in which the team missed the post-season for the first in six years and its coach made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Tortorella was let go by the team less than one month after general manager Mike Gillis lost his job and former captain Trevor Linden was named president of hockey operations.
