Tortorella steadfast on future

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Published March 1, 2008

---

TAMPA - There are plenty of reasons for John Tortorella to be concerned about his job security. The Lightning, in transition on the ice and in the owner's box, is in last place in the Southeast Division and virtually assured of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

But if Tortorella, in his sixth season as coach in Tampa Bay, is fretting, he is doing so in private.

"I'm not going to do my job to please people," he said Friday morning. "My job is to do the job the correct way, and I'm going to stay with the way I feel it's supposed to be done. And people above, (if) they don't like it, get me the hell out, because I am not going to change as far as what I think is best for the hockey team.

"It has never been, never will be a popularity contest for me," added Tortorella, who has led the Lightning into the playoffs the past four years, including a Stanley Cup in 2004. "I work for the team, to push the players, to make the team the best they possibly can (be). If people don't like how I'm doing it - or if I'm doing it - they can move me on."