John Tortorella Sabotages Own Interview, Gets Hired Anyway

After speaking with a high-level member of the Vancouver Canucks, we’ve learned that John Tortorella’s interview did not go as well as first thought. However, the Canucks decided Torts was the man for the job.

Reports are coming out that Tortorella, who is known for his very animated and dismissive tone with the media, mouthed off at the entire Vancouver front office during his scheduled sit-down. The one source inside Vancouver’s front office that we talked to said, “It was as if he was in New York talking to the media again. It felt like he hated all of us on a personal level.”

Although Tortorella finished with a winning record in each of the four full seasons he coached the Rangers, he often was very hostile towards the media. Surely, he wouldn’t damage his own reputation and miss out on a marquee job in Vancouver with his hard-nosed shtick, right?

Apparently not, as our source alluded to yesterday when we talked to him. “He was throwing around f-bombs all throughout the interview, “ said our man inside Vancouver’s front office. “And it wasn’t just when referring to the Rangers or the media. He called [GM] Mike Gillis a shithead to his face and described the Sedin brothers as ugly fuckups.”

It’s obviously odd that Tortorella would bad-mouth the very organization that he is interviewing for. But, even odder, is the Canucks’ complete willingness to hire the man. But, after speaking with our source, it was clear that the Canucks were smitten with the former Rangers’ coach.

“He just impressed everyone so much in the meeting. We’ve been missing his hateful attitude on our bench,” the Vancouver executive added.

Offensive-minded coach Alain Vigneault was let go following another disappointing playoff exit. Tortorella’s defensive style of hockey will certainly be installed in Vancouver, but what will become of the Canucks’ offensive attack, led by Henrik and Daniel Sedin?

When we spoke with GM Mike Gillis, he didn’t sound too worried. “If any of the boys don’t appreciate how Torts runs his team, they’ll be out on their asses,” Gillis contended. “We’re just going to let Torts handle the team and media how he sees fit,” Gillis added. “He has had a track record of success that cannot be diminished.

When Gillis was told that Vigneault had gone further in the playoffs in the last five seasons, Gillis declined to comment.

While the Canucks have hired a Stanley Cup winning coach in John Tortorella, we’ll see if it yields them the desired results.

In other Vancouver news, the “green men” that show up to Canucks games will now reportedly dress up in suits and start yelling obscenities at opposing players in the penalty box. We’ll have more on that development as sources confirm the reports.