Every current NHL franchise’s most beloved head coach

Tampa Bay Lightning: John Tortorella

The Tampa Bay Lightning are not as historic as most franchises, but they have had their share of success in just the small amount of time they’ve existed. They’ve had a share of great coaches in their history, but the hot-headed John Tortorella is the most beloved for now.

The Lighting were part of the league expansion in 1992 and struggled immensely for years. Before Tortorella was hired in 2001, the Lighting had made the playoffs just one time, and were stomped by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.

Tortorella was tasked with turning a lifeless team into a Stanley Cup contender, a process that would require a lot of patience. The Lightning finished last in the division in his first partial season, and finished well out of playoff contention in the next year but showed signs of improvement.

The following season marked Tortorella’s first winning season as a head coach, as the Lightning won their first Southeast Division title in franchise history with their second winning season in history. They took down the Capitals in the first round, but were beaten the Devils in round two.

2003, the last season before the lockout, was Tortorella and the Lightning’s finest hour. The put up the second best record in the league with 106 points. They ran through the first two rounds against the Islanders and Canadiens, and survived a seven game series with the Flyers to head the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Lighting squared off with the Calgary Flames in what would turn out I be one of the best Finals since the turn of the century. The Lighting forced a Game 7 on home ice, and took the game 2-1 for their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.