from Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province,

... the prospect of Tortorella landing the Canucks job continues to polarize the local hockey populace, to say nothing of curious free agents.

For all his bluster behind the bench and in front of microphones, Tortorella does have the ability to motivate, articulate and command such a level of respect that you either perform or you get pined. Brad Richards, in the playoffs, was the prime example from being demoted to the fourth line to not playing at all.

And you also have to think that Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini wants to change the message and take players out of a comfort zone. He wants a butt-kicker, and if that's the case, Gillis will have to make sure somebody is wearing the white hat and patting players on the back.

That's how it works in the NHL. Tortorella had Craig Ramsay as that kind of assistant in Tampa Bay when the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004.

"Torts is a very good coach who wears people thin," said an NHL source. "He had no filter in New York and John needs a filter. Craig Ramsay was a great fit. There was all kinds of intensity coming from the bench in New York and no backdrop at all."

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