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Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals Coaching Comparison

By William Espy

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 25: Head coach John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on from the bench against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on January 25, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 25: Head coach John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on from the bench against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on January 25, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals are home to the last two Jack Adams award winners, but which team is the better coached team?

John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals are two of the most respected coaches in the NHL today. They’ve both proven time and time again that they are world class coaches and this is shown by their continued success.

Barry Trotz was hired by the Washington Capitals in 2014 after spending his previous time as the only head coach in Nashville Predators history to that point. While he’s never won a Stanley Cup, Trotz’s teams usually end up being regular season powerhouses. That is especially true since arriving in Washington.

John Tortorella was brought into Columbus in 2015 after a lackluster 0-8-0 start to the season; since then he has become the franchise leader in coaching wins passing predecessor Todd Richards.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets /

Columbus Blue Jackets

According to Hockey-Reference, Barry Trotz has seen a substantial increase in win percentage since joining Washington; as in the nations capital he was won .677. In the playoffs with Washington however, he has a win percentage of only .513.

While that may seem like a low win percentage, compared to John Tortorella’s playoff win percentage with the Columbus Blue Jackets of .200, it seems astronomical. The career playoff win percentage is heavily in Tortorella’s favor however, with him leading Trotz .468 to .438.

The biggest difference between Tortorella and Trotz would likely be a Stanley Cup ring. John Tortorella was able to win a Stanley Cup as part of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004; and although he hasn’t been able to repeat the same success in New York, Vancouver and now Columbus, there’s no guarantee he won’t be able to with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

ADVANTAGE: NONE

Next: CBJ and Caps Winger Comparison

This will be a battle of two well coached teams, and while each coach has their own small advantages; there is no “better” coach. They both are world class level coaches who represent the best of the NHL.

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