San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky detailed his relationship with the Philadelphia Flyers’ now-fired head coach on Thursday.
Tortorella came under scrutiny after his team’s sixth straight loss and detailed his goals as a coach.
“I’m not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season, where we’re at right now,” Tortorella told reporters following a 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I saw the quote. There’s probably more context to the quote than just the one little snippet that we see, so I can’t really comment on that. It’s a hard position to be in. We’re living it right now, every day of going through some struggles, and it’s hard,” Warsofsky said.
“It weighs on you as a human being, and I don’t think people understand that. You get in your car, you go home, it affects your life. I know Torts is a little bit of an older guy, and he’s been through a lot. You guys have seen me there. There’s a lot of emotion that comes with this sport, and yet we’re asked to talk 15 minutes after a tough loss. It’s difficult, and I feel for him because he’s such a great man, and I think he’s an outstanding coach.”
Warsofsky said he was introduced to the Stanley Cup-winning coach during the 2022 NHL Draft by Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. Before he was the San Jose Sharks head coach, Warsofsky served as an assistant coach to David Quinn.
The Sharks coach told reporters that he had a four-hour conversation with Tortorella about everything, including possibly being part of his coaching staff in Montreal. Warsofsky did not confirm whether he was officially offered a position.
“We sat down in Montreal before the draft for four hours. We talked about everything under the sun. I think he talked more about families and his kids and my kids, and that’s where I really got to know him. I think that’s when I realized how great of a person he is,” Warsofsky said. “He had an opening in Philadelphia, so we talked about that a little bit, and then I had to make some decisions myself. That’s when I really dove in with him and asked a lot, not just of him but other coaches around the league, too. He was very supportive.”
The San Jose Sharks head coach has not been shy about who he has spoken to this season. He is utilizing all his resources to help him navigate a challenging first season as an NHL head coach.
“I thought our beliefs aligned, so it’s reassuring for me, in a sense. He’s extremely hard and demanding, and I think what gets lost is he wants what’s best for the player,” Warsofsky said of Tortorella. “Sometimes, this day and age, let’s be honest, it’s a sensitive world out there, and if you don’t have some thick skin, it’s gonna be tough to get better as a hockey player. I think that’s how he approached it, and that’s how he’s always been.”
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