The coaches were chosen in August. The full team rosters have been revealed. All that's left to do is gear up and play the 4 Nations Face-Off in mid-February.
John Tortorella has, and currently is, coaching at the highest level of the NHL. He has coached internationally as well, last with the United States at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. As his coaching career comes to an end soon, he wouldn't mind allowing those still getting their feet wet to have the experiences he's had.
But when someone near and dear to you calls and asks you to join their staff, it's a no-brainer. That's what happened when Tortorella got the call from Mike Sullivan to be an assistant coach for the United States.
"When it comes to Mike Sullivan, who calls me, who started with me as an assistant coach, and it's kind of gone full circle, it's something I'm very fortunate to have is to coach with him in a different role and support him," Tortorella said on Wednesday. "That's what kicked it over for me. Sully called, and when Sully calls, I'll do anything for that guy. He means that much to me."
Tortorella honored to be a part of Team USA's coaching staff with Sullivan
The two have coached together many times over their NHL careers. Sullivan has been an assistant coach on three different teams with Tortorella. The two started together in Tampa Bay where Sullivan was an assistant for the final two years of Tortorella's head coaching stint. The two were in New York where they spent four seasons together. Both moved on to Vancouver, spending just a season together before they were jointly fired.
From there, both agreed that they needed to move on from each other and go their separate ways in the coaching world.
"I was nervous when I got gassed out of Vancouver after a year and Sully had followed me around in two or three different teams. We both talked because we knew we were getting fired before they fired us, we knew we were going. We already had talked about—it's time, we gotta split up and he's gotta get about his business."
Tortorella moved on to the Blue Jackets for six seasons, becoming the franchise's all-time winningest coach. Sullivan took a different path back to the NHL, one Tortorella commended him for. He went to Chicago as a player development coach for a year. He was named the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL. Just a few months later, Sullivan became the coach of the Penguins, a place he hasn't looked back since.
Sullivan has the most wins as a head coach in franchise history, setting that mark in 2021. He is second behind John Cooper as one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NHL. The Penguins have made the playoffs seven times during his tenure and have captured two Stanley Cups.
"He grinded away until he got his opportunity. And that's what I respect about that guy. He's not afraid of that stuff. He understands that you need to continue evolving as a coach."
Tortorella is thankful that he won't be the man in charge behind the bench. He joked that he finally gets to be a good cop. It'll be a different look for him. He is likely to focus on what he does best which is the physical and defensive side of the game. The tournament isn't a long one and could turn into a grind at times. That's where Tortorella can prepare teams.
But don't necessarily expect to see him going all out. This is a chance for him to hand the reigns off to someone else.
"I think I'm gonna be a sh---- assistant coach," Tortorella joked. "I do, I think about that. I try to think about what my role is and how I have to handle myself. I'll handle it the right way, but I'm not so sure I'll be a really good assistant coach. And I don't think he's really looking for it that way. I don't think any of the staffs are gonna be that way."
The ultimate goal is to win and Team USA will have a chance to do that. A team with Tortorella as a coach always seems to surprise when needed. He'll be coaching against three of his players: Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, and Rasmus Ristolainen.
He's not going to keep any secrets as to what makes those players tick. When it comes down to it, Tortorella is ready to win.
"We're trying to win, we're trying to beat the s--- out of them. If are on Canada, we're trying to beat Canada. That's where you try to win, it's your country. There's no secrets with me. We'll see where it goes."
Along with coaching alongside someone he considers to be one of his best friends, being a part of the USA staff holds a personal meaning to Tortorella as well.
"To represent your country, it's always an honor. My son's been in the military for 12, 13 years, so we keep a close eye and we have a lot of good friends within the military, all over the place....It's an honor to—back nine of my career, pretty much close to being done with it—and to be able to do it with your country again. And do it with one of my best friends, absolutely. I love it."