Tortorella on the Rangers

[Neb00rs]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=525777&navid=DL|NHL|home

Break 'em up -- John Tortorella gave new meaning to the term "breakup day" this week when he spoke about the 2009-10 New York Rangers.

Tortorella was blunt in what went well and what didn't for the Rangers, who were denied a playoff berth on the final day of the season when they lost in a shootout to the Flyers.

"I wasn't crazy about the room," Tortorella said Tuesday. "That isn't an indictment of Chris Drury or Ryan Callahan or our leadership group. I think some people need to be weeded out of there. It's certainly not our core people.

"I think that room doesn't sustain itself. I don't think the room's a strong room.

"I think some guys need to be bumped out."

That is a pretty damning indictment of the team that finished 38-33-11 and was 7-1-2 down the stretch. But he called the efforts of his team's star forwards "despicable" in the season finale.

"We played a (gutsy) game against Philly in our building and we had zero top guys show up in Philly, which was despicable," Tortorella said. "I think (Marian) Gaborik's a legitimate star but I don't like the way he has played in big games. I think he needs to cross the line there, but we've got some pieces here.

"We need to add to it. Then when you get an opportunity -- hey, I might not even be here -- but when you get there and you're not fighting ninth and eighth every year you might be a legitimately good team for a while."

[cubanjd305]

Smart. Take Gaborik out and you win 15 games....smart

[devilsadvoc8]

What the guy says may be right, may not be. My issue is making it public. Nothing like this ever gains respect from a locker room or in an office. Treat adults like adults.

This guy is a plain and simple a-hole.

[Vic Rattlehead18]

Gaborik is the only reason why they were even in the position to be fighting for the playoffs. Maybe the rest of the team should scored some goals. 222 goals, Gaborik had 86 points (42 goals in 76 games). That's a pretty high percentage for one guy. Considering the next highest was Prospal with 58 (20 goals in 75 games).

[Joonas #6]

Maybe they signed that Zuccarello-Aasen dude so they could get rid of Gabby

[Legion15]

it's just fun watching torts get all pissy. he did that when he coached TB.

['7']

Tortorella is an egomaniac and an all around terrible coach. If I was Gaborik I'd want out, or at least demand his firing.

[Amberite]

Eh, Torts is already getting fired towards the middle of next season, this just pushes it forward a few weeks as Sather would obviously choose Gaborik when he starts to tune out Tortorella.

[Random Poster]

Say what you want, but he's right to an extent here. The comment about Gaborik, well, he can't do it himself. He's not quite that kind of player. Few are. Torts also seems to forget he had Erik Christensen as his center for a good amount of time this year. Yeah, Erik Christensen.

The problem here is this is stuff you don't say in in papers. People have a difficult time hearing the truth nowadays.

Edited April 18, 2010 by SJP20

[NewarkDevil5]

Gaborik scored just under 1/5 of the Ranger goals this year. That seems to me like he's done his job for that team. Someone in the other 80% of the goal scoring should've picked up a little of the slack don't you think?

[Devs3cups]

WHAT?! If gaborik wasn't with you you would have finished the season 12th in the east!

[skullsmasher]

They didn't miss the playoffs because of Gaborik in the last game, but because of the rest of the team for the previous 81 games.

[USC09]

If Gaborik did not score those goals in October, November and December and January, the Rangers would probably be fighting for the #1 overall pick. Gaborik is the Rangers MVP this season, I mean howbout Drury, a $7 million dollar mistake, Callahan, and Dubinsky.

[peteyvegas]

I dont know,guys. Scoring doesn't mean playing well all the time. Rolston just scored 2 goals in game 3 of the playoffs. Does anyone think he's playing well?

[cubanjd305]

I dont know,guys. Scoring doesn't mean playing well all the time. Rolston just scored 2 goals in game 3 of the playoffs. Does anyone think he's playing well?

No, but he deserves a thank you for finally hitting the net. At least, he doesn't deserve to be singled out for the loss right?

[run_to_the_ditch]

So I guess the real question is who is going to go first...Gaborik or Torts???