Scott Burnside at ESPN.com takes a look at the top five coaches on the hot seat and lists John Tortorella...John Tortorella, New York Rangers
We start our discussion about Tortorella by suggesting the NHL is always going to be a more interesting place with the combustible bench boss in it. That said, Tortorella will have his hands full on Broadway as the Rangers continue to studiously avoid filling crucial gaps in their lineup, like a top center and power-play quarterback, thanks in large part to the perpetual malaise that afflicts the GM position held apparently for life by Glen Sather...
...To be sure, Tortorella is far more than a fiery glare and a granite jaw. But in the tough Atlantic Division, Tortorella will have to up the ante to get his Rangers back into the postseason.
...the Rangers struggles aren't all Torts' fault but there is no doubt that he is on the hot seat after a first round exit two years ago and last year's debacle. I think he at least gets the first half of the season. But if the Rangers are wallowing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference at the All Star break look for Sather to go in another director.
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9 comments:
I'm not a huge fan of torts but you gotta cut the guy a little slack for what he was to work with. Its easier to put the blame on a coach than your gm. Look at this year, look at all the players signed and resined in the offseason and then you be a coach and have to choose 18 players that will hopefully get you into the playoffs. What torts should do i s stick to one plan, last off season it was all talk about this run and gun offensive system the slowly he went back to the way renney coached, defense first. If your gonna say one thing and do another its just poor coaching. And please try and stick to at least two solid lines throughout most of the season, not line changing every couple games.
Yeah, I'm not putting all the blame at Torts' feet. But that's the way it works in sports, if the team is struggling the coach gets fired.
And unfortunately, we all know that the person who should be fired (cough Sather cough) is not going anywhere.
I've come to realize that sather will be around forever, when the world ends he's gonna be the only one alive sitting back smoking a cigar..................
Exactly how much power does coach have? NYR Coach? Does he really get to choose who makes the roster?
If he does then (and i'm not fan of Torts either) I'm kind of optimistic.
Like or dislike John Tortorella, but he definitely LIKES to have some youth to work with. Even if he's out by mid-season - I won't miss him much, but will be grateful if the best in camp make the team. He is a headache but then again - at least he cares.
Instead of the incessant "Potvin Sucks" chant throughout our home games (Potvin does suck, btw), fans should be screaming "Sather Sucks!"
" the Rangers continue to studiously avoid filling crucial gaps in their lineup"
more hate from espn
Well, if the NYR's are sucking wind at the bottom of the standings at mid-point and Slats needs to make a change. Then he needs to take a look at the common denominator for the last 10 years and fire his butt.
Yes Sather is to blame for this mediocre team but in Torts first full season, the rangers failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the lockout. I know there are a lot of Renney haters out there but in his defense he led the rangers to the playoffs every season he coached. IMO Torts should've been canned after the SO loss to Philly. I'm surprised the NY media isn't trashing the classless coach like they did the classy coach in Renney.
@MBarber- That is a tough approach- you had two HOF in Jagr and Shanny- a complete first line that could play and produce. A goaltender in Lundqvist and a team D that played stingy. Yet for all the talent he still couldn't get past the 2nd round. Torts in his first year had 14 new faces on the team and was expected to produce with the likes of Jokinen,Kotalik, Higgins, Lisin, Prospal et al. Not to mention EC as a 1st line center. The whole lineup consisted of 3rd liners throughout all 4 lines, not to mention 2 rookies and R&R playing D. Please stop with the history lessons of Renney. You cannot compare the rosters so don't compare the coaches.
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