Look, I know that John Tortorella isn't the most popular name in the NHL landscape. He's known to be fiery and have a bad temper while lashing out at his players and the media. That can leave some fans feeling a collective groan from seeing the Stanley Cup winner's face.
Yeah, man. I know how you feel. However, there's an objective that Kelly McCrimmon is trying to achieve.
The team doesn't care whose names are on the back of the jersey. That has rung true for players like Marc-Andre Fleury and Jonathan Marchessault, fan favorites who've been shown the door in favor of a competitive environment. Yet, here we are with a Stanley Cup in tow, along with some division titles.
Perhaps things aren't too bad with the constant changes. Who knows? But this move feels different among Golden Knights fans. You see, Bruce Cassidy isn't anything like Fleury or Marchessault, for he's not seeing the twilight of his NHL career... as a head coach.
Alas, we move on. Yeah, I know that Tortorella isn't the most ideal head coach out there. He's been known to blow his lid one too many times and be a viral YouTube sensation. However, there's a way that the newest Golden Knights head coach can build some goodwill with the fanbase. Here's how he can make this happen.
John Tortorella must show that he's able to adapt in the modern NHL landscape
Fans might tout Tortorella's past experience and his stellar achievements. We're talking about two Jack Adams awards and a Stanley Cup in 2004. While all that sounds good how has the head coach done in recent memory?
Well, he has a record of 115-133-45 in his past four seasons. That comes with two playoff series wins since 2013 and no division championships since 2012. On top of that, he hasn't finished above 3rd in 10 consecutive seasons. These records and stats indicate a head coach who hasn't done a terrific job of adapting.
Therefore, the one wish for Tortorella is for him to adapt to the modern NHL landscape. A lot can change in a decade, with the modern NHL game becoming faster and more team-oriented. That also goes for the NHL landscape since 2004. No longer are you seeing a grittier game. Instead, you see more finesse and rushes, which is something that must be considered.
Yes, the Golden Knights are older and the team needs more physical bite. However, a little adapting to the modern NHL landscape will help Vegas immensely. That means taking better care of the puck while incorporating Tortorella's patented physicality.
That also goes with Tortorella's talk about mentality. How will the mindsets change with the Golden Knights? That's the big question for Vegas for the rest of the season. If they can adapt to their new head coach, things will be all bueno. If not? Well, there will be some rumblings about the front office that will make some people uncomfortable, especially with this season being awful.