In a way, the rebuilding of the Vancouver Canucks began long before the team traded goaltender Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday in exchange for goaltending prospect Jacob Markstrom and center Shawn Matthias, per Corey Masisak of NHL.com.
On June 25, 2013, the Canucks handed John Tortorella a five-year contract to coach the team, which seemed like an odd choice at the time. Tortorella had success in his four-plus years with the New York Rangers, but he inherited a young team that he molded into his own image—a tough, hard-working team that followed his orders or felt his wrath.
The team developed a thick skin, and Tortorella’s work culminated with the budding Rangers reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2012 and conference semifinals in 2013. Not long after the Rangers were bounced by the Boston Bruins in five games last year, however, Tortorella was fired with one year remaining on his contract.
The players instilled with toughness and grit that was nonexistent when Tortorella arrived in New York turned on him. Veterans and young players alike had enough of the coach’s a ...
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Article written by Dave Lozo
Roberto Luongo Trade: Canucks Begin Rebuild with John Tortorella Leading Way
March 4th, 2014 by Dave Lozo Leave a reply »
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