A year away from the NHL grind gave John Tortorella an opportunity to decompress, take a step back, and learn.
He learned from his coaching colleagues in the hockey community, from general managers, scouts and other trusted people in the game. More recently, he’s spent time with the NHL Network as an analyst, giving him a chance to catch many teams in action and break down what’s gone right or gone wrong.
Even before he was officially named head coach of the Blue Jackets on Wednesday morning, the 57-year-old Tortorella admired the team from afar.