The Lightning coach becomes the first U.S. native to win the Jack Adams Award.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published June 11, 2004
TORONTO - Lightning coach John Tortorella said that entering the season he had no expectations concerning personal goals.
Asked about how his team, with such a young core, survived the pressure of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Tortorella said he "doesn't buy" that coaching had anything to do with it.
"They are the ones who have to go through the pressure," Tortorella said. "It's easy for the coaches to say to keep it simple. But they have to go out and do it."
Regardless, Tortorella was rewarded for Tampa Bay's superb season with the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.
The vote by the Hockey Broadcasters Association wasn't even close. Tortorella received 35 first-place votes. San Jose's Ron Wilson was second with 16. Tortorella, a Boston native, is the first U.S.-born coach to win the trophy and just the third, with Fred Shero and Scotty Bowman, to win it and the Stanley Cup in the same season.
Tortorella, a runnerup last season, said he could not have done it without associate coach Craig Ramsay, goaltenders coach Jeff Reese and assistant/video coach Nigel Kirwan.
What did they contribute?
"Everything," Tortorella said. "It's a staff. That's how we got the job done. Everyone contributed in the staff and the team reaps the benefits."
Tortorella said an injury sparked his career. He said he was playing for the Virginia Lancers in the old Eastern League when he blew out a knee and was asked to go behind the bench. That was in 1986. Since then, through stints as an assistant with the Sabres, Coyotes and Rangers, and as coach of AHL Rochester, Tortorella has figured out the right emotional buttons to push.
"He took over and was really hard on us," center Brad Richards said. "We didn't know why. But now we know. He had a plan."
The plan, instituted in January 2001 when he took over for Steve Ludzik, brought the Lightning consecutive Southeast titles, its first 100-point season and the Stanley Cup.
"The reason we had success is we believe it's about a team," Tortorella said. "You give them an opportunity to go down the right road. If they veer off you've got to bring them back."
