It’s Official: Tortorella Is Not Coming Back Behind The Lightning’s Bench

The Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Club have officially announced it: John Tortorella is free to talk to any other team since they have no intention on having him back for next season. By doing so, they have just made the rumors on Barry Melrose seem even more real as they already are.

Jay Feaster said that it was a very hard decision to take, seeing the good things John has done for the team, including winning the cup for them in 2004, but he says that the decision had to be taken and that signing an expansion to his contract wasn’t an option for them. For Feaster, it was one step further to a better future for the team. Feaster added that Tortorella changed the Lightning’s organization and that what he accomplished in Tampa is simply remarkable.

Players like Andre Roy weren’t surprised when they heard the news. According to him, many players weren’t getting along anymore with Tortorella and were sick of hearing the same speeches from him over and over again.

Now that this has been confirmed, is Barry Melrose going to take over behind the Lightning’s bench?

Where is John Tortorella going to coach next? Does he even intend on coaching again anyways?

John Tortorella won the Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Lightning and is 239-222-36-38 in seven seasons with them.