Polarizing NHL coach John Tortorella joins ESPN as analyst

John Tortorella has a new job, but instead of standing behind the bench, the outspoken hockey personality will be sitting behind a desk.

That's because Torts is joining ESPN and will serve as a studio analyst for the network, according to the New York Post. 

The former NHL bench boss parted ways with the Columbus Blue Jackets at the end of the 2020-21 season. He spent the last six years as head coach of the team and boasted a winning record in five of those campaigns.

This past year was a rough one for him and the team, as Columbus finished the season with an 18-26-12 record while occupying the basement in the Central Division.

Tortorella signing with ESPN marks a return to broadcasting for the polarizing 63-year-old. In between stints with the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers, he served as an analyst on TSN for part of the 2008-09 season. He was named head coach of the Rangers in February of 2009.

Whether you're a fan of Torts' antics or not, his short-tempered style makes him must-watch entertainment.

It was announced in March that ESPN and the NHL had agreed on a seven-year, multi-platform rights deal that begins at the start of the 2021-22 season.

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