Analysts predict Tortorella will be suspended five to 10 games
Posted Jan 20, 2014 11:42 am.
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Vancouver Canucks Head Coach John Tortorella had a disciplinary hearing with the NHL Tuesday, after his actions in his team’s fight-filled game against Calgary this weekend.
Before the game, the Calgary Flames Head Coach Bob Hartley submitted his team’s fourth line as the starting one before the Canucks gave their starters.
The home team then also put on their fourth line players, with Tortorella claiming he had to protect his stars.
Tortorella was shown on camera in an altercation outside the Flames dressing room during the first intermission.
The game began with a line brawl as soon as the puck dropped.
Sportsnet 960 The Fan Morning Show Host, Dean Molberg, said in terms of a potential suspension for Tortorella, he anticipates a minimum of five games.
“I would think between five to 10, somewhere in there and maybe a $25,000 fine, maybe more,” Molberg said. “Maybe I”m way off on this, but I think that they will come down hard, he’s kind of an easy target because he is so fiery and has a bit of a track record.”
Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman appeared on Molberg’s show Monday, and although he defended Vancouver’s coach for responding with his own tough players, he also expects Tortorella will be disciplined for around the same amount of time for the intermission altercation.
“Tortorella is 100 per cent at fault for going down the hallway, which is why he is going down I would guess somewhere between five to 10 games,” Friedman said.
As for Hartley, Molberg also thinks he will get fined.
“Earlier this season, Ron Rolston, the former coach in Buffalo got fined for putting out one of his tough guys against Phil Kessel,” Molberg said. “And he got fined for player selection, whatever that means, so I wonder if in fact Bob Hartley gets dinged in the wallet for player selection.
Friedman also said he believes Hartley will lose money.
