John Tortorella
Encyclopedia
Jonathan "John" Tortorella (born June 24, 1958) is an American professional ice hockey
coach and is now the head coach of the New York Rangers
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He is perhaps best known for his tenure as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning
when he led the team to the 2004 Stanley Cup championship
. Tortorella became head coach of the Lightning on June 6, 2001 and stayed on until his firing on June 3, 2008 after six and a half seasons, having compiled a 239–222–36–38 record. The firing took place four years after the team's Stanley Cup victory.
Tortorella has been credited by East Coast Hockey League founders Henry Brabham
and Bill Coffey
with coming up with the name for the league during a league meeting at a Ramada Inn in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. At the time Tortorella was the head coach of Brabham's Virginia Lancers
, but left the Lancers to become the assistant coach of the American Hockey League
's New Haven Nighthawks
before the ECHL's inaugural season in 1988.
Tortorella, "The Paper Italian", played right wing
in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) at the University of Maine
for three years (1978–81). He played along with his brother, goaltender Jim, who now serves as assistant men's coach for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. After college Tortorella played four years of minor pro hockey (1982–86) in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
. During these years he skated with the Hampton Roads Gulls
, Erie Golden Blades
, Nashville South Stars
and the Virginia Lancers
.
During his days in the ACHL, Tortorella briefly played with Oren Koules
while with the Hampton Roads Gulls. The two later reunited in Tampa Bay, as Tortorella was the coach and Koules was one of the new owners of the Lightning.
(AHL)'s Rochester Americans
and the ECHL
's Virginia Lancers
. He was also an assistant coach for the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks
and Rochester Americans, and the NHL's Buffalo Sabres
, Phoenix Coyotes
and New York Rangers
. He won the Calder Cup
with the 1996 Rochester Americans.
Tortorella is known for his outspoken nature—which has included criticizing his own players—and for his unusual system of regularly rotating goaltending duties. This method was used when the Lightning won their first Stanley Cup.
four games to one in the second round of the 2003 playoffs
. At the end of the season he was also recognized as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award
as coach of the year, losing out to Minnesota's Jacques Lemaire
.
In 2003–04, Tortorella's fourth season with the team, the Lightning won their second consecutive Southeastern Division title. The Lightning were the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and defeated the sixth-seeded Calgary Flames
four games to three, winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The team was in its eleventh year of existence. It was the last Stanley Cup won before the 2004–05 NHL lockout. A few days after winning the Stanley Cup, Tortorella would go on to win the 2004 Jack Adams Award
as coach of the year.
Before the start of the 2005–06 season – the NHL's first post-lockout campaign – Tampa Bay's starting goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin
left the team due to the newly implemented salary cap restrictions. Tortorella was hard on Lightning goaltender John Grahame
for much of the 2005–06. Grahame subsequently signed with the Carolina Hurricanes
before the start of the 2006–07 season. Despite the Lightning winning a 2nd-team best 44 games in 2006–07, the Lightning did not win the Southeast Division.
He was involved in controversy yet again after game five of Lightning's series against the New Jersey Devils
during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs
. During a press conference in which Tortorella was visibly irate and disappointed, he told New York Post
reporter Larry Brooks to "get the fuck out of here" live on CBC
television, in response to Brooks' heckling.
Tortorella was fined $10,000 by the NHL for negative comments he made about the on-ice officials after a 4–3 overtime loss at the Atlanta Thrashers
on November 19, 2007.
On March 11, 2008 with the Lightning defeat of the New York Islanders
, Tortorella passed Bob Johnson as the winningest American born NHL coach with 235 victories. Peter Laviolette
would later pass him in on November 7, 2008.
After his dismissal from the Lightning, Tortorella was an in-studio panelist on the NHL on TSN
.
on February 23, 2009, replacing Tom Renney
, who was fired earlier that day. On March 17, he again became the American-born coach with the most wins in NHL history, this time surpassing Laviolette.
Tortorella was suspended 1 game by the NHL for an altercation with several Capitals fans behind the bench in the third period of Game 5 in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
. Replays show the fan clearly heckling Tortorella through verbal jeering, before Tortorella responded by throwing a water bottle at a fan before grabbing a stick from Aaron Voros
and trying to spear the fan through a space between 2 panes of glass. He did not receive a penalty on the play despite the fact that NHL rules state any physical altercations with fans result in ejection from a game; however, the next day the NHL suspended him.
When Laviolette became coach of the Philadelphia Flyers
in 2009, the rivalry between the two teams
became further heated with Tortorella and Laviolette being the American-born coaches with the most wins in NHL history.
, which included leading the squad at the 2008 IIHF World Championship
, where they finished sixth.
* – Mid-season replacement
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
coach and is now the head coach of the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He is perhaps best known for his tenure as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
when he led the team to the 2004 Stanley Cup championship
2004 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2004 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2003–04 season. As a culmination of the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Western Conference champion Calgary Flames...
. Tortorella became head coach of the Lightning on June 6, 2001 and stayed on until his firing on June 3, 2008 after six and a half seasons, having compiled a 239–222–36–38 record. The firing took place four years after the team's Stanley Cup victory.
Tortorella has been credited by East Coast Hockey League founders Henry Brabham
Henry Brabham
Henry Brabham is the founder of the ECHL, formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League.Founded in 1988, the ECHL is a minor professional ice hockey league that serves as a development league for the NHL...
and Bill Coffey
Bill Coffey
Bill Coffey is a businessman and minor league sports entrepreneur. He is one of the founders of the ECHL . Founded in 1988, the ECHL is a minor professional ice hockey league that serves as a development league for the NHL...
with coming up with the name for the league during a league meeting at a Ramada Inn in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. At the time Tortorella was the head coach of Brabham's Virginia Lancers
Virginia Lancers
The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people.-Atlantic Coast Hockey League :...
, but left the Lancers to become the assistant coach of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
's New Haven Nighthawks
New Haven Nighthawks
The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
before the ECHL's inaugural season in 1988.
Early life
Tortorella attended Concord Carlise High School and is on the athletic Hall Of Fame Wall (1976). John's brother Jim Tortorella is also listed on the wall.Tortorella, "The Paper Italian", played right wing
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) at the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
for three years (1978–81). He played along with his brother, goaltender Jim, who now serves as assistant men's coach for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. After college Tortorella played four years of minor pro hockey (1982–86) in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
Atlantic Coast Hockey League
The Atlantic Coast Hockey League was a minor league hockey organization that operated between 1981 and 1987. The league was founded by Bill Coffey....
. During these years he skated with the Hampton Roads Gulls
Hampton Roads Gulls
The Hampton Roads Gulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Hampton, VA. They were a member of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in the 1982-83 season.-Season-by-season results:-Notable players:...
, Erie Golden Blades
Erie Golden Blades
The Erie Golden Blades were a minor league hockey team that played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. Their home ice was the Erie County Field House. The Erie County Field House was located in Erie, Pennsylvania and held 4200 people. The team was owned by Steve Stroud from 1983-87The Golden...
, Nashville South Stars
Nashville South Stars
The Nashville South Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League for the 1981-82 season. They then played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League for the 1982-83 season and part of the 1983-84 season before the franchise relocated to become the Virginia Lancers.It had been...
and the Virginia Lancers
Virginia Lancers
The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people.-Atlantic Coast Hockey League :...
.
During his days in the ACHL, Tortorella briefly played with Oren Koules
Oren Koules
Oren Koules is an American entertainment industry and professional sports industry executive. He was president of Evolution Entertainment, producer of the Saw film series...
while with the Hampton Roads Gulls. The two later reunited in Tampa Bay, as Tortorella was the coach and Koules was one of the new owners of the Lightning.
Coaching career
Tortorella's coaching career began with the American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL)'s Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
and the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
's Virginia Lancers
Virginia Lancers
The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people.-Atlantic Coast Hockey League :...
. He was also an assistant coach for the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks
New Haven Nighthawks
The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
and Rochester Americans, and the NHL's Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
. He won the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
with the 1996 Rochester Americans.
Tortorella is known for his outspoken nature—which has included criticizing his own players—and for his unusual system of regularly rotating goaltending duties. This method was used when the Lightning won their first Stanley Cup.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tortorella took over the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2000–01 as a mid-season replacement. The team won only 28% (12 of 43) of its games to end the season, finishing last in the division. The following season, the team finished third in the division but had a losing record and did not qualify for the playoffs. The 2002–03 season marked Tortorella's first winning season as an NHL head coach, as the Lightning won the Southeast Division, losing to the New Jersey DevilsNew Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
four games to one in the second round of the 2003 playoffs
2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played...
. At the end of the season he was also recognized as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award
Jack Adams Award
The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." It has been awarded 37 times to 32 different coaches. The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association at the end of the...
as coach of the year, losing out to Minnesota's Jacques Lemaire
Jacques Lemaire
Jacques Gerard Lemaire is a former ice hockey forward for the Montreal Canadiens and a long-time coach, most notably with the New Jersey Devils and the Minnesota Wild.-Playing career:...
.
In 2003–04, Tortorella's fourth season with the team, the Lightning won their second consecutive Southeastern Division title. The Lightning were the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and defeated the sixth-seeded Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
four games to three, winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The team was in its eleventh year of existence. It was the last Stanley Cup won before the 2004–05 NHL lockout. A few days after winning the Stanley Cup, Tortorella would go on to win the 2004 Jack Adams Award
Jack Adams Award
The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." It has been awarded 37 times to 32 different coaches. The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association at the end of the...
as coach of the year.
Before the start of the 2005–06 season – the NHL's first post-lockout campaign – Tampa Bay's starting goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin
Nikolai Khabibulin
Nikolai Ivanovich Khabibulin is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League...
left the team due to the newly implemented salary cap restrictions. Tortorella was hard on Lightning goaltender John Grahame
John Grahame
John Gillies Mark Grahame is currently the goaltender coach for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL and is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played most recently for the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:Grahame played in the USHL for the Sioux City...
for much of the 2005–06. Grahame subsequently signed with the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
before the start of the 2006–07 season. Despite the Lightning winning a 2nd-team best 44 games in 2006–07, the Lightning did not win the Southeast Division.
He was involved in controversy yet again after game five of Lightning's series against the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the...
. During a press conference in which Tortorella was visibly irate and disappointed, he told New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
reporter Larry Brooks to "get the fuck out of here" live on CBC
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
television, in response to Brooks' heckling.
Tortorella was fined $10,000 by the NHL for negative comments he made about the on-ice officials after a 4–3 overtime loss at the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
on November 19, 2007.
On March 11, 2008 with the Lightning defeat of the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Tortorella passed Bob Johnson as the winningest American born NHL coach with 235 victories. Peter Laviolette
Peter Laviolette
Peter Laviolette Jr. is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman and is the current head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League...
would later pass him in on November 7, 2008.
After his dismissal from the Lightning, Tortorella was an in-studio panelist on the NHL on TSN
NHL on TSN
The NHL on TSN is TSN's broadcast of National Hockey League games. The show's current incarnation debuted in 2002. The channel has exclusive local rights to the Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets.-Coverage overview:...
.
New York Rangers
Tortorella was named head coach of the New York RangersNew York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
on February 23, 2009, replacing Tom Renney
Tom Renney
Thomas Renney is a Canadian ice hockey Head Coach for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League . He has previously coached the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks....
, who was fired earlier that day. On March 17, he again became the American-born coach with the most wins in NHL history, this time surpassing Laviolette.
Tortorella was suspended 1 game by the NHL for an altercation with several Capitals fans behind the bench in the third period of Game 5 in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
. Replays show the fan clearly heckling Tortorella through verbal jeering, before Tortorella responded by throwing a water bottle at a fan before grabbing a stick from Aaron Voros
Aaron Voros
Aaron Voros is a professional ice hockey winger. He is currently playing with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League. He was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils with the 229th overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...
and trying to spear the fan through a space between 2 panes of glass. He did not receive a penalty on the play despite the fact that NHL rules state any physical altercations with fans result in ejection from a game; however, the next day the NHL suspended him.
When Laviolette became coach of the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 2009, the rivalry between the two teams
Flyers–Rangers rivalry
The Philadelphia Flyers–New York Rangers rivalry is one of the most storied and well known rivalries in the National Hockey League...
became further heated with Tortorella and Laviolette being the American-born coaches with the most wins in NHL history.
United States national men's hockey team
John is also the current assistant coach of the U.S. National Men's hockey team, replacing Peter LaviolettePeter Laviolette
Peter Laviolette Jr. is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman and is the current head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League...
, which included leading the squad at the 2008 IIHF World Championship
2008 IIHF World Championship
The 2008 IIHF World Championship was played between May 2 and May 18, 2008 in the Canadian cities of Halifax and Quebec City . The two venues were the Halifax Metro Centre and the Colisée Pepsi...
, where they finished sixth.
NHL coaching record
Statistics up to date as of April 9, 2011| Team | |Regular Season | NYR New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
1999–2000* | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4th in Atlantic (73 Pts.) | – | – | – | ||||||||
| TB Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
2000–01* | 43 | 12 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 5th in Southeast (59 Pts.) | – | – | – | |
| TB Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
2001–02 | 82 | 27 | 40 | 11 | 4 | 69 | 3rd in Southeast | – | – | – | |
| TB Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
2002–03 | 82 | 36 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 93 | 1st in Southeast | 5 | 6 | .455 | Lost East Semifinals |
| TB Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
2003–04 | 82 | 46 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 106 | 1st in Southeast | 16 | 7 | .696 | Stanley Cup Champions |
| TB Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
2005–06 | 82 | 43 | 33 | ||||||||
| 6 | 92 | 2nd in Southeast | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost East Quarterfinals | ||||||
| TB Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
2006–07 | 82 | 44 | 33 | ||||||||
| 5 | 93 | 2nd in Southeast | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost East Quarterfinals | ||||||
| TB Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
2007–08 | 82 | 31 | 42 | ||||||||
| 9 | 71 | 5th in Southeast | ||||||||||
| NYR New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... * |
21 | 12 | 7 | ||||||||
| 2 | 26 | 4th in Atlantic (95 Pts.) | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost East Quarterfinals | ||||||
| NYR New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
82 | 38 | 33 | ||||||||
| 11 | 87 | 4th in Atlantic | ||||||||||
| NYR New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
82 | 44 | 33 | ||||||||
| 5 | 93 | 3rd in Atlantic | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost East Quarterfinals | ||||||
| Total | 724 | 333 | 298 | 37 | 56 | 27 | 25 | .520 | ||||
* – Mid-season replacement