Stan Fischler's Interview with John Tortorella Part 2
Torts on what players Carl like Hagelin and Chris Kreider give the team and how New York replaced the toughness lost with Brandon Dubinsky and Brandon Prust...
"The additions of Carl Hagelin and Chris Kreider have given us a lot of speed," he noted. "And don't forget the importance of quickness as opposed to just speed. That's a big part of the way National Hockey League play is going. As for size, Rick Nash can move and he's adding to our size.
"Granted we lost some size and hardness when Duby (Brandon Dubinsky) and Prusty (Brandon Prust) left, but we've made up for that with our additions (Arron Asham, Taylor Pyatt, Jeff Halpern, Micheal Haley.) With these guys we're going to play a hard, straight-ahead game."
Torts on Ryan McDonagh's development...
"Ryan's best has yet to come, really. Basically, he's just starting to come on because he's got the goods. He's mentally mature. Even when he makes a mistake, Ryan is ready for the next shift. And he's going to get better and better offensively."
- It's always refreshing to get Torts outside of the press conference room: he's always enlightening and engaging when he's not talking about a game that just happened.
- I agree with him that Asham, Pyatt and Halpern will play his style of hockey and contribute. Not convinced Haley starts out with the Rangers but that's what training camp is for.
- Can't help but get excited when reading his comments on McDonagh, who is going to a stud for the next decade.
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Shocker, the dog walk is mentioned in the interview. lol
Agree with James that Torts is a different person doing these kind of interviews than post or pre game ones.
Much easier to like.
@KevinDeLury He admitted he's so emotional after the games that press conferences are tough for him. But, he's very candid any other time he's interviewed. Can't hate on Torts.
@TheWrage @KevinDeLury Totally agree. Ask me about something I had just lost 15 mins after it happened and it would be hard to control my bitter attitude at that moment, too. You can give extra props to coaching who are less "emotional." I suppose, but I think people make way too much of Torts' demeanor is post-game pressers.
