John Tortorella: podcast appearances and interviews

John Tortorella, born on June 24, 1958, is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He most recently served as the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League. Throughout his coaching career, Tortorella has been the head coach for several NHL teams, including the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers. During his tenure with Tampa Bay, he won the Stanley Cup in 2004. Hired late into the 2025–26 season by the Golden Knights, Tortorella led the team into the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, where they were defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. He was not retained after the conclusion of that season. Tortorella is notable for being the first American-born NHL coach to reach 500 wins and, as of the end of the 2025–26 season, is ninth all-time in wins with 777. He is also a two-time recipient of the Jack Adams Award, which recognizes the NHL's top coach. Known for his outspoken and sometimes confrontational demeanor, Tortorella has been known to criticize both his players and members of the media. His coaching strategies have included rotating goaltenders regularly, a system he first employed with Tampa Bay and later revived in the 2019–20 NHL season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, supporting the emergence of a goaltender tandem.