Texas Torts?
Maybe, just maybe.
The Dallas Stars are reportedly showing interest in John Tortorella for their vacant head coaching position, according to a source of ESPN New York.
Tortorella, 54, was fired by the Rangers two weeks ago after a second-round playoff exit to Boston.
There’s not much linking Tortorella to the Stars franchise. He’s coached almost exclusively in the Eastern Conference over his 23-year NHL career -- save a brief two-season stop with the Phoenix Coyotes in the late ‘90s -- and doesn’t appear to have much of a past working relationship with any of the Stars brass.
That said, new Dallas GM Jim Nill promised an exhaustive, thorough search to find his next head coach, so kicking the tires on Tortorella could simply be part of the process.
Tortorella is still being paid by the Rangers -- he signed a contract extension during the ’13 regular season -- so it’s expected that New York won’t stand in his way should he want to pursue a new job.