COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Head Coach John Tortorella to a one-year contract extension through the 2018-19 National Hockey League season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. Since joining the club on Oct. 21, 2015, Tortorella has led the Blue Jackets to an 84-57-16 record and .586 points percentage.

"John Tortorella and his coaching staff have done a terrific job since his arrival nearly two years ago," said Kekalainen. "He is one of the top coaches in our game and we are excited about what lies ahead for our club with John as our head coach."

Tortorella won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year after leading the Blue Jackets to the best season in the club's 17-year history last season. Columbus posted a 50-24-8 record and 108 points, which was the fourth-best record in the NHL and represented a 32-point turnaround from 2015-16. The Blue Jackets ranked second in the League in goals-against average (2.35 per game), sixth in goals-for (3.01), ninth-T in penalty killing (82.5 percent) and 12th in power play efficiency (19.9 percent). The club also boasted the third-best goal differential in the NHL at +54.