Does Torts Need A Deep Playoff Run to Survive?
Stu Hackel at SI.com takes a look at the coaches who could be on the hot seat and says John Tortorella could be one of them...
"Expectations have been elevated at Madison Square Garden and, quite simply, the Rangers need to make the playoffs and probably a deep run for coach John Tortorella to survive. An early elimination wouldn't look good, and missing the party altogether could be unacceptable to GM Glen Sather and the Garden Corp."
...i couldn't disagree more. Torts is still less than a year removed from guiding the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals and I very much doubt that one bad year, especially during a lockout shortened season, will end his tenure in New York. And if you're a Knicks fan you know that Dolan is faithful to a fault and you'll see that again with Tortorella. So you can bet on him sticking around even if the Rangers fail to make the playoffs.
...i know things are falling apart at the seams, but Torts has been around the block and you can bet that he's heard the Rangers toughness being questioned in every corner of the hockey world these last two days and will use it to inspire his men the same way he did when Joe Thornton called them soft last year.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, the Rangers were 2 wins from the Stanley Cup Finals least year. Seems like a deep playoff run to me.
Anyone who thinks Torts needs to go is a fool. We all remember where this team was at when he took over Renney's spot at the helm... He took a bottom of the barrell team and turned it around to a playoff contender every year and a cup contender last year and this year. One bad shortened season does not warrant a firing. If this lasts all season and we don't make the playoffs, and then it extends into the start of next season (which it will not) then yeah MAYBE a new coach should be considered but only if there are viable options out there. Torts is an incredible coach and motivator. This debacle we have been watching will end and we will make a deep run once again. Keep calm and believe in the system.
Seeing a lot of the same BS here as the Richards thread. Fire him! He sucks! I'm a better coach than he is!! Gimme a break, guys. The team has improved in the wins column, goals for column, and goals against column ANNUALLY since Torts started coaching here. 38 wins his first season, 44 in his second, and 51 in his third. Goals for increased from 28th, to 16, to 11th in the league. Goals against? 10th, to 5th, to 3rd. Basically, Tortorella has been nothing but a good coach for this team.
@TheNYRBlog 2 things do you see Mcilrath coming up and would you do a Gabby for B Campbell of Panthers trade. Being money is about same
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I could see Torts getting the axe. Can't seem to scheme or bring out much from his players on the offensive side of the game. Also...ruling by fear only works for so long - can't keep benching players for a penalty without revolt.
It's a Sports Illustrated writer with not much of a clue. I can appreciate how looking from the outside one might suspect a coach in this predicament to be in hot water. On the other hand, just a cursory bit of research on his part might have provided a keener perspective. I guess you don't have to do much to hold down a writing gig with SI. Anyone looking for work? Check with SI to hold you over until you can find a real job.
@TheNYRBlog too bad games are only in conference the Rangers could really use Joe Thornton to call them soft right now
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First coach to go should be Sullivan. Realize if the Rangers were able to capitalize on more of their PP chances this year the team would easily have 12+ wins at this point. Special teams has been demoralizing.
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Ludicrous to think Torts is on the hot seat this season. The only way he goes on the hot seat is if he loses the team. Despite their lackluster play of late, there is no way in hell that he's even come close to losing this team.
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The only thing I would fault Tortorella with is his handling of young players. I believe Krieder was playing well last season in the playoffs because he didn't know the system all that well and Tortorella let him use his natural skills. Once we have groomed Krieder to play in the "system" he looks like he is hesitant and scared to make a mistake. At some point he has to see he has to let kids play and make mistakes and be hockey players who play with guts and feel...I think JT Miller has suffered from the same---played really well in first few games and now is overthinking.
@LanceGold1 You're insane if you think Kreider was just using his "natural skills" to play well last playoffs. He had a little thing called FRESH LEGS on a GASSED TEAM. Adrenaline from winning the National Championship, combined with a relatively easy college hockey schedule, and boom, you've got some fresh legs to help spark the team. It's not like Kreider did anything special, two of his goals were off breakaways that he created with his speed (nice, fresh legs. Have I said fresh legs enough yet). Another goal was a nice pass from Stepan off the rush. Another goal was a lucky deflection on the powerplay.
Also gotta factor in that Kreider's positioning and defense were AWFUL. That's why he wasn't consistently on a top line. IT was nuts when everyone started bitching "Kreider needs more minutes! Play him more!!" NO. He had a couple of awful giveaways, and was constantly taking poor paths to the puck (things he still does, mind you). It has nothing to do with the system, in my opinion.
I can agree with your take about the fresh legs piece---but I still think the young players on this team play afraid to make a mistake....and that is not the way you want them to learn how to play.
No way Torts should be fired. He needs a full training camp with his team probably more than any other coach in the league, not only for conditioning (which has definitely been a problem for a handful of guys) but also to instill the tough mentality that the Rangers showed last year. Not to mention some time to teach the young guys his system during camp so that when they get called up during the year (McD, Hags) they make a significant impact. It's partially the personnel turnover, of course, and I love Prust, but he just wasn't worth the contract Montreal could afford to give him, and if losing Dubinsky means Nash you do that every time. I liked Feds and he gave the team solid PK minutes forechecking, but he wasn't particularly tough, and John Mitchell on a healthy Ranger team would be playing 6 or 7 minutes a night, if he was playing at all. The mental toughness that the team displayed last year, which helped them on an individual level get through benchings and had them playing tough for Torts despite constant line-juggling is almost non-existent, and the team toughness mentality where'd they do anything for a teammate was never fostered in the stunted training camp this year.
This team is going to be a force to be reckoned with next year barring a catastrophic injury, and hopefully Sather and Dolan have enough foresight (which is saying a lot, I know) to not blow things up just because this one disjointed season has the chance to go south pretty quickly. That being said, if they start potting some goals or Hank returns to Vezina form (unrealistic to ask for both), there's no saying this season can't be successful as well.
Why on earth would anyone think that Torts' job is in jeopardy, he took a team to the Eastern Conference Finals last year that really had no business being there and was a finalist for Coach of the Year. This season the team has been struggling for 18 games, their big acquision is obviously hurt and has been playing so and now he's going to be fired. Don't Ranger fans have anything better to do than speculate on the coach's job? I'm not Torts biggest fan, but sheesh, come on. I think last year would at least buy him through the end of his current contract if not a short extension.
Why on earth would anyone think that Torts' job is in jeopardy, he took a team to the Eastern Conference Finals last year that really had no business being there and was a finalist for Coach of the Year. This season the team has been struggling for 18 games, their big acquision is obviously hurt and has been playing so and now he's going to be fired. Don't Ranger fans have anything better to do than speculate on the coach's job? I'm not Torts biggest fan, but sheesh, come on. I think last year would at least buy him through the end of his current contract if not a short extension.
Why on earth would anyone think that Torts' job is in jeopardy, he took a team to the Eastern Conference Finals last year that really had no business being there and was a finalist for Coach of the Year. This season the team has been struggling for 18 games, their big acquision is obviously hurt and has been playing so and now he's going to be fired. Don't Ranger fans have anything better to do than speculate on the coach's job? I'm not Torts biggest fan, but sheesh, come on. I think last year would at least buy him through the end of his current contract if not a short extension.
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I dont think its fair that one seasons success could help Torts keep his job. Other than last year the team has been mediocre under Torts (8th place and 1st round exits). I dont think hes a bad coach by any means, but it just seems like the team is tired of his bs this season. As a player how can you stay mentally focused when you dont know what line you will be on next game or even next shift. There has been such little consistency during Tortorella's tenure in NY, its getting pretty old to see even as a fan.
Why can't we get Mess behind the bench??! Problems solved. I'm over the 'Torts Show', send him to the Whale. He can take Sully with him.
@Iron Mike -- Why would Mess want to blemish a great career with a coaching stint? I'd prefer to remember Messier the way I remember him, don't ruin it by coaching.
@TheNYRBlog unclog guy clueless about hockey they stopped playing him,,torts is a 1hit wonder his act dies out .his benching screaming
@Zyke13 One hit wonder? The guy won a Cup in Tamps and led Rangers to Eastern Conference Finals.
@TheNYRBlog then y did Tampa get rid of him if he is this god u r. Making him out to b. 1hit wonder with rangers they stopped playing for
@TheNYRBlog listen I am not management but u can see this team quit this team has no clue no desire to play for him make a change now
@Zyke13 Easy to come in and coach a team with tradition of winning. Torts came into a situation where Rangers weren't winning.
@TheNYRBlog enough with benching shuffle lines who I would love to see coach a guy like Babcock from det
@TheNYRBlog someone with a system that adjusts to u r team u did not get Nash to block shots. Up tempo coach that will let Them play
@TheNYRBlog remember what happened the last time somebody called the rangers soft? See last November....joe thornton
@JTMassey79 While fans have, I saw a lot of people in hockey circle saying it for the first time the last two days.
@TheNYRBlog Throw in Gaborik and Richards not existing and with current injuries, they're woeful
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I have to disagree with you on one thing. Being a jets fan the eastern conference finals means nothing to me. I hate people that say but the jets got to the afc championship, and I do not want to hear that about the Rangers too. Having said that the only way I think torts doesn't come back next year is of the rangers finish 12th or worse in the eastern conference. I don't see sather firing him in a shortened season where there was no training camp which is essential to torts coaching strategy.
