Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

All Seth Jones

12/22/2018 at 9:21am EST

from Greg Wyshynski of ESPN,

Your coach, John Tortorella, is one of the best in the NHL, but he's also known to be kind of a caricature sometimes. Your buddies back at home must ask what he's like. What do you tell them?

Jones: Oh, man. There's quite a bit. I don't think I could pick out one story for ya. It's always fun coming to the rink every day and seeing what's going to happen. But he's been a lot better. Even when I got traded here, we were in the middle of really changing the culture here, trying to create a winning environment, and I think we've done that.

You know, we have a young team. He's taken a step back and he's grown as a coach. He understands that you can't coach the way he used to, especially with us being as young as we are. He's given guys more leash. He's been great for us, because he pushes us, holds everyone accountable. That's what I like.

Do you remember the first time he chewed you out?

Jones: I do, actually. The year I was traded to Columbus [from Nashville in 2016], in the last few minutes of a game against Chicago. We were playing Artemi Panarin, Patrick Kane, those guys, very last game of the season. I'm not sure where my mind was that game, because we were out of the playoffs already. So the very first period, five seconds into the game, I fall down, Panarin and Kane come in and they score. So Torts says, "Whatever happens, happens." But then Panarin and Kane connect for two more goals while I'm out there, like they did against everyone all season. [Tortorella] comes into the room after the first [period] and he just rips me a new one. He said I wasn't going to leave the bench in the second period. And I didn't see a shift in the second period. I played in the third. But that was the memory.

more Q & A...

Create an Account

In order to leave a comment, please create an account.

About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]

Most Recent Posts

Most Recent Comments

Comment by Paul in Kukla's Korner Hockey from the entry NHL Short Notes - 4 hours ago
Comment by Paul in Kukla's Korner Hockey from the entry NHL Short Notes - 4 hours ago
Comment by Steeb in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Quick Recap- Wings/Hurricanes - 4 hours ago
Comment by calquake in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Quick Recap- Wings/Hurricanes - 5 hours ago
Comment by StargateSG1 in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Quick Recap- Wings/Hurricanes - 5 hours ago