Former Tampa Bay Lightning head coach John Tortorella has been hired to replace Todd Richards as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the third team in the NHL’s modern history to open a season 0-7.
Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced the move Wednesday and have planned a news conference.
Tortorella, 57, who signed a three-year contract, will make his Blue Jackets debut on Thursday when Columbus visits Minnesota.
“None of us saw our season unfolding the way it has and every one of us from management to coaches to players bears responsibility,” Kekalainen said in a news release.