Little in common, except in respect earned

The coaches in this series use different paths and dissimilar methods.

By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 16, 2003

WASHINGTON -- Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella and his counterpart in this Stanley Cup playoff series, Washington's Bruce Cassidy, were asked the same question.

Are you having fun?

The answers show that the difference between the two coaches might be as wide as the Atlantic.

"I never have fun," Tortorella said.

"Fun?" Cassidy said. "Yeah, I'm enjoying myself. I really am."

Of course, the answers might have something to do with the fact that Washington leads this best-of-seven series.

Then again, maybe not.

The thought the two might have been separated at birth never has entered anyone's mind.

Both are personable, honest, communicate with players well, and are intelligent in all matters regarding hockey. The similarities pretty much end there.

Tortorella, 44, is emotional, exceedingly intense, rigid, knows exactly what he wants and how to go about getting it. Cassidy, 37, is a bit different. He's laid back, cooler, calmer.

Yet both have their teams in the playoffs, showing there is more than one way to climb a mountain. And both have climbed their version of Everest.

Tortorella took over an organization full of no-name kids and neck-deep in a losing tradition. His mission: to build a winner. Cassidy, meantime, took over a team full of big-name veterans on a team with a knack for collapsing in the postseason. His duty: bring back the winning tradition.

And neither has changed his personality along the way.

"Listen, this is the greatest job in the world," Tortorella said with a smile. "Don't get me wrong. I love my job. But no matter if you're winning or losing, as a coach, your job is to get ready for the next game.

"It's the greatest job in the world, but there's no time for fun."

Cassidy, though, said: "This is the most exciting, most fun time of the season. Why not enjoy it?"

The differences between the two go back to their playing days. Tortorella never was drafted, never played in the NHL, kicked around the minors and Europe. Cassidy was the 18th overall pick in the 1983 draft and probably would've made a decent NHL player had it not been for a severe knee injury as a teenager and another one that ended his playing career at age 31.

That was where their paths started to intertwine. Both climbed the minor-league ladder toward an NHL coaching career. And now are coaching their first NHL teams, not counting Tortorella's four-game stint with the Rangers at the end of the 1999-2000 season.

Yet though both have different styles, both appear to be respected by their players.

Cassidy has been praised by veterans such as Jaromir Jagr and Peter Bondra even after Cassidy took some early season lumps for implementing a system that didn't work. He never whined or pointed a finger. He listened to his players, and changed the Caps' style.

"The biggest thing (Tortorella) did was bring accountability back into the dressing room and that was lacking here," Lightning defenseman Jassen Cullimore said. "He has his way of doing things, and that's the plan we follow."

Two different styles. Two different men.

Very similar results.