Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella was fined $25,000 for his conduct during a media session following the Blue Jackets elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5.
An agitated Tortorella ended his video news conference after two questions, simply standing up and walking away.
“I’m not going to get into the touchy-feely stuff and the moral victories and all that” Tortorella said during the brief media session, ending by saying — “You guys be safe.”
The NHL announced the fine on Tuesday and added that they were collecting on a “conditional” one issued in January, where Tortorella criticized officials and the league for what he perceived as a time-keeping error during a December loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
In order to avoid that fine, Tortorella was to go the rest of the year without any additional conduct offenses.
The money collected from the fine goes to the NHL Foundation charity.
