CBJ fires Todd Richards, names Tortorella as new head coach

Seven straight losses to start the season was more than the front office was willing to take. The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired head coach Todd Richards.

Richards had been with the club since June of 2011 and became the interim head coach after the firing of Scott Arniel in January 2012. During the following off-season, Richards was given the job outright. Under his lead, the CBJ recorded its first ever playoff wins (in 2014). When the CBJ’s post-season run came to an end that year, he was given a 2-year contract extension that would have kept him in place through the 2016 – 2017 season, but…seven straight losses.

The CBJ fell to the New York Islanders Tuesday night, 4 – 0.

Players are reacting to the change.

[Richards] did everything he could. We didn’t get the job done.

– Blue Jacket Nick Foligno

The Blue Jackets have named John Tortorella as the new head coach. Tortorella previously held the same position with the Rangers, Canucks and Lightning. He led Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup title in 2004.  As for his gig in Columbus, the new coach says that he can’t wait to get started:

You can say a lot of things but action is the most important thing.

– John Tortorella

(jj)

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