The Columbus Blue Jackets are in Los Angeles on Monday to take on the Kings in what marks the 1300th career NHL game for head coach John Tortorella.
Torts is just the 4th active NHL coach to have reached the 1300 game milestone and the 13th all-time.
The 61-year has been an NHL head coach since the 1999-00 season, when he was hired to fill the position by the New York Rangers as a late season replacement, coaching just 4 games for the Rangers that season.
The following season, he was hired mid-season by the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa was a bottom-feeder when Torts arrived, but it was with the Bolts that Tortorella would
go on to win a Stanley Cup in 2004. He also walked away with his first of two Jack Adams Awards that season.
The hot-tempered bench boss has been employed by the Columbus Blue Jackets since the 2015-16 season and has led his team to the playoffs in the last three consecutive seasons.
Tortorella's coaching record in the NHL (prior to Monday's game against the Kings) is 641-508-37-113 through 1299 career games.
Congratulations to John on his stellar accomplishment.
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