John Tortorella's new role in the hockey world has been revealled
As we get closer to the start of the crucial 2025-26 NHL season, John Tortorella's new job in the hockey world has been addressed.
Recently, Team USA confirmed that John Tortorella would be back behind the bench as assistant coach, despite not having a job in the NHL right now.
According to the U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan, Tortorella can be a very valuable addition to the coaching staff for a precise reason.
Both coaches opened up about his role ahead of the Olympics in a new interview.
'I want you to be the old wise man': Sullivan to Tortorella on His Role for the 2026 Olympics
Tortorella was fired by the Philadelphia Flyers last season after openly discussing the fact that he wasn't interested in coaching a rebuilding team anymore at this stage of his career, adding he wanted to work with winning organizations.
For Sullivan, Tortorella brings a lot to the team in another role: an assistant coach focused on mentoring instead of 'hammering' on players:
"I said to him, 'I would like you to take on a different role than you are as a head coach. I don't want you to be the hammer. I'll be the hammer. I want you to be the old wise man.
I want you to reveal yourself to the players and the other coaches. I want you to show the John Tortorella that I know, that my wife knows, that my kids know, that your kids know, that you don't show the world very often.'
And I said, 'If you can bring that to this staff and our team, I think you're going to be a tremendous value.'
And that's what he did."
I want you to reveal yourself to the players and the other coaches. I want you to show the John Tortorella that I know, that my wife knows, that my kids know, that your kids know, that you don't show the world very often.'
And I said, 'If you can bring that to this staff and our team, I think you're going to be a tremendous value.'
And that's what he did."
Tortorella knows his place. It's a different role for him, but he showed excitement nonetheless due to the high skill level on the team:
"We have such a big base of skill and toughness and will in the U.S. program right now competing for these jobs on this Olympic team. For me to be able to go out and watch this type of stuff, I mean, it's fantastic. I won't be making decisions. I'll have my input, obviously."
"I'm going to tell you how I think. I'm going to tell you what I think of the player. No matter if it's good or bad, I'm going to be honest with you. I think that's what I need to do and not get caught up in the name but just get caught up in how they're playing."
"Yeah, so kind of a different role, but a really exciting role for me."
"I have to admit, it's weird for me. I don't think I'm a very good assistant coach. I want to control things at certain times. When you're running it, you're barking, you're setting up drills, and you're getting them moving. I can't do that."
"You can't get your ego in the way here. I'd rather be a sounding board and oversee and just give my thoughts as we go through there, because it's not my team, and these guys are younger coaches that have kind of grown up with this group through USA Hockey. I get it, and it doesn't bother me at all."
"I'm going to tell you how I think. I'm going to tell you what I think of the player. No matter if it's good or bad, I'm going to be honest with you. I think that's what I need to do and not get caught up in the name but just get caught up in how they're playing."
"Yeah, so kind of a different role, but a really exciting role for me."
"I have to admit, it's weird for me. I don't think I'm a very good assistant coach. I want to control things at certain times. When you're running it, you're barking, you're setting up drills, and you're getting them moving. I can't do that."
"You can't get your ego in the way here. I'd rather be a sounding board and oversee and just give my thoughts as we go through there, because it's not my team, and these guys are younger coaches that have kind of grown up with this group through USA Hockey. I get it, and it doesn't bother me at all."
The upcoming NHL season will be interesting to follow for many reasons, but one of them is related to the 2026 Olympic Games.
Across the whole league, the compete level could reach new highs, with many players looking to impress early on to get their ticket for the Olympics.
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SEPTEMBRE 25 | 211 ANSWERS John Tortorella's new role in the hockey world has been revealled Do you think John Tortorella's NHL coaching career is over? | ||
| Yes | 120 | 56.9 % |
| No | 91 | 43.1 % |
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