Blue Jackets sign coach John Tortorella to 2-year extension

John-Tortorella

Former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella. (Gene J. Puskar/AP/CP)

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed head coach John Tortorella to a two-year contract extension Wednesday. The deal keeps him signed through the 2020-21 season.

Tortorella is the Blue Jackets’ all-time leader in wins as he has guided Columbus to a 129-87-23 record in 239 games since being hired as head coach on Oct. 21, 2015.

The 60-year-old won the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL’s Coach of the Year in 2016-17 after Columbus posted the best record in franchise history with a 50-24-8 mark.

“Our team has been one of the winningest in the NHL over the past two seasons and John Tortorella has played a critical role in that success and in raising the level of our team’s play since his arrival,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a relase. “His passion and commitment to being the best has permeated our team and we believe will lead to even greater success in the future.”

Tortorella has compiled a 575-462-138 record in 1,175 games split between the Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

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