Blue Jackets, Tortorella working toward contract extension

The Columbus Blue Jackets like what they see with John Tortorella.

So much so that the club is working to sign the fiery bench boss to a contract extension, reports Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch.

"He did a great job for us, together with his coaching staff," said Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. "We have some great young talent, and I think he can bring our team to the next level. So hopefully we get it done."

Tortorella joined the Blue Jackets during the 2015-16 season following the early dismissal of Todd Richards. Flip the calendar a year later, with Tortorella getting the opportunity to instill his message from Day 1 of training camp, and it resulted in the best season in franchise history.

Columbus finished with 50 wins and 108 points for the league's fourth-best record, and advanced to the playoffs for just the third time since joining the NHL in 2000.

That performance has Tortorella nominated the Jack Adams Award as the coach of the year. It is his fourth nomination, winning in 2003-04 while with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Covering head coaching stints with the Blue Jackets, Lightning, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks, Tortorella ranks 22nd all time with 530 career wins. He won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004.