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Entries with the tag: John+Tortorella
Tortorella Helped Erin Andrews With Her Career
by Paul on 10/19/09 at 05:52 PM ET
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from Tom Jones of the St. Peterburg Times via Scripps News,
Q: Let’s talk about your career. How much did former Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella (the coach when Andrews started with the NHL team) influence your career?
(Erin Andrews) A: “Torts’ has meant so much to me in my life and in my career. It was clearly a situation where he didn’t want a 22-year-old around that team, nor should he have. He was trying to turn around the worst team in the league. And here’s this 22-year-old kid right out of school traveling on the bus, at the hotel, at all the practices.
But he taught me so much about how to prepare, how you should act as a professional, how to ask questions. I mean, if you weren’t prepared, a guy like that could be tough to deal with. (Laughs) And he taught me to have no fear. He taught me how to prepare and jump right in. He was so good and respectful to me, and he didn’t have to be. Everybody with the Lightning was like that.
more but not much more hockey talk…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Erin+Andrews, John+Tortorella,
‘Torts’ In Mid-Season Form
by Paul on 09/25/09 at 11:35 AM ET
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from Steve Zipay of Blue Notes at Newsday,
None of the half-dozen beat writers covered the preseason game in Detroit and the next afternoon, in Boston, Andrew Gross and I lined up for the brief pregame QnA with the coach. Asked if he enjoyed the previous evening’s post-game presser without the daily chroniclers, he called it “the best bleepin hour of my career…It’s not just you guys, I hate all the bleepin’ media.” After two innocuous questions yesterday afternoon, he told Larry Brooks to “stop coaching” and chastised me for worring too much about the lines. No prob, we’re big boys. Some of this is a yen for confrontation and because he’d rather not publicly divulge his ideas---except on his own terms, when he wants to send a message.
more & other Rangers notes…
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Tortorella On Dubinsky
by Paul on 09/12/09 at 02:17 PM ET
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via Steve Zipay of Blue Notes at Newsday,
On the first day of training camp, unsigned RFA Brandon Dubinsky was a no-show.
And John Tortorella was not happy.
“It’s stupid, “ the Rangers head coach said after 50-plus players went through a series of medical tests and wind sprints. “He’s a young man that needs to be here. I think a player needs to be with his teammates. I’m hoping he realizes that. I think his agent’s stupid….I think Dubi understands my feelings. I thought Glen (Sather) was very honest with Dubi a couple days ago---I was privy to that conversation---as a general manager and man-to-man as a friend.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Brandon+Dubinsky, John+Tortorella,
Tortorella Talks Rangers
by Paul on 08/19/09 at 08:16 AM ET
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from Jeff Z. Klein of Slap Shot at the NY Times,
Tortorella is usually full of eloquent enthusiasm, but always lurking just beneath the surface is the promise of conflict. He said he was looking forward to getting hold of the Rangers for the first time in training camp, as opposed to late in the season.
“The real part of it is when you can have your own camp,” he said. “That’s where we can establish what our mindset is going to be, conditioning, which I think is a weakness of our club. As I’ve said, and I make no bones about it, I don’t think we’re a stiff team mentally. I think we have to be a little bit tougher in that area, in mental parts and preparation.”
And how will it work with the Rangers now that Torts will have control from Game 1?
“It’s a process, it’s accountability, it’s merit,” he said, then outlined a program of eternal Darwinian struggle.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: John+Tortorella,
Firewagon Hockey In NYC
by Paul on 08/03/09 at 02:51 PM ET
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Part 2 of an interview with John Tortorella…
from Stan Fischler of Game On,
This is John’s team and he has an obligation to mold it, not only in his image and philosophy but also with the players he believes will best serve the Rangers interests.
Tortorella is emphasizing what the Canadiens called Firewagon Hockey, when Montreal won five-straight Stanley Cups between 1956 and 1960. He wants speed and more speed; along with as much youth as possible. Betts apparently does not fill that bill, admirable as his defensive skills may be.
In a nutshell, Orr has won a ridiculously high and long contract from the Maple Leafs simply because GM Brian Burke is building a behemoth roster. Brashear is a better fighter than Orr and skates faster. There was no way Glen Sather should have paid crazy bucks for Orr nor a long-term deal befitting a Sid Crosby.
As for Tortorella, he was typically candid about each of the trio, showing a sincere appreciation for the contributions of Betts and Orr while explaining the importance of the Brashear import.
“I really liked Bettsy,” said Torts. “He was really good for us on the penalty-kill and on face-offs.”
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Evening Line
by Paul on 07/31/09 at 08:52 PM ET
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“The other day I told my wife that I still can’t believe that I’m preparing to run a camp for a team in New York City. I love the people, the building, the pressure of it all. It’s the NEW YORK RANGERS; AN ORIGINAL SIX TEAM IN THE WORLD’S BIGGEST VENUE. For me, coaching this team is a privilege!”
-Rangers coach John Tortorella. Much more on ‘Torts’ from Stan Fishcler of Game On.
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Morning Line
by Paul on 06/30/09 at 10:15 AM ET
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“I thought some guys were tired in the first round of the playoffs — it’s unacceptable. I think we need to change the look of our club. I think we need to change a little bit of the attitude of our club. It’s wide open and that’s a good thing for a player. So he [had] better be in shape because that’s something he can control.”
-New York Rangers coach John Tortella. More from the coach by Andrew Gross of NorthJersey.com.
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Schoenfeld Talks About Tortorella Suspension
by Paul on 04/26/09 at 01:24 PM ET
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from Jeff Z. Klein of Slap Shot at the NY Times,
Schoenfeld talked about what triggered Tortorella’s outburst, which was caught by Verizon Center security cameras and which led to the N.H.L.’s suspension, levied at 10 o’clock Saturday night. In suspending Tortorella, the league said that the coach squirted water at fans, then had a drink thrown at him from the stands, then threw a bottle that struck another fan.
“I’ll tell you, I know the heart of the guy, and I know the thing that triggered him,” Schoenfeld said, then referred to the Verizon Center fans behind the bench area. “It wasn’t any sling they threw at him, and there were many. It was something they said about one of his players.”
Schoenfeld continued, addressing reporters: “And you guys, it’s easy to say that you’ve got to keep control or you’ve got to keep it in check, turn the other way, that there are rules. But there’s a certain part of your being when you’re a coach, and it’s just like being a parent. There are certain things you’ll put up with when people slander your kids, and there’s a certain line that people cross. And that’s what happened with John,” he added.
added 2:17pm, also from Jeff Z. Klein of Slap Shot,
Just before Game 6 Sunday afternoon, the Rangers released a letter to N.H.L. Commissioner Gary Bettman from G.M. Glen Sather, asking that the Washington Capitals be disciplined for failing to control the actions of their fans in the incident that led to the one-game suspension to Rangers Coach John Tortorella for squirting water and throwing a water bottle at fans late in Game 5.
The letter alleged that fans spat on Ranger bench personnel, shouted homophobic remarks about Rangers players and screamed in Tortorella’s ear. The letter said that Verizon Center security guards and ushers did nothing when asked by the Rangers bench personnel to restrain the fans.
continued, copy of the letter can be read there…
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jim+Schoenfeld, John+Tortorella,
Tortorella Suspended One Game
by Paul on 04/25/09 at 09:53 PM ET
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from NHL.com,
“While it is a difficult decision to suspend a coach at this point in a playoff series, it has been made clear to all of our players, coaches and other bench personnel that the National Hockey League cannot—and will not—tolerate any physical contact with fans,” NHL Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell said. “We do not take this action lightly. It is the result of an entire day of investigation and evaluation that included the retrieval and review of videotape of the incident and discussions with Mr. Tortorella, other Rangers’ bench personnel and a number of other people, including the security personnel at the Verizon Center.
added 11:04pm, The Rangers issued a one line statement on the suspension- “We disagree with the suspension and will have no further comment.”
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
‘Tough Guy’ Caps Fan Gets Into It With Tortorella
by Paul on 04/25/09 at 08:55 AM ET
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from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
John Tortorella faces disciplinary action from the NHL after throwing a water bottle from the Rangers’ bench into the stands at 6:33 of the third period of last night’s Game 5, 4-0 defeat to the Caps.
The head coach, who would not answer questions about the incident, could be suspended by commissioner Gary Bettman for tomorrow afternoon’s Game 6 at the Garden. The Rangers’ public relations representative threatened to end last night’s postgame press conference if questions on the subject continued.
Tortorella, who may have thought he had been doused by a beer or spat upon during a television timeout, wheeled toward the stands and threw a bottle over the high glass protecting the bench.
continued and Puck Daddy has some video of the water bottle toss.
note: original post date was 4/24/09 at 9:42pm
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: John+Tortorella,
“We Stunk Defensively”
by Paul on 04/20/09 at 11:08 PM ET
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Rangers coach John Tortorella discusses the loss to the Capitals tonight.
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
A Look At Tortorella As The Rangers Coach
by Paul on 04/01/09 at 09:46 AM ET
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from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
Five weeks and 16 games of 9-5-2 hockey into his tenure, what stands out about John Tortorella’s crash course from behind the Rangers bench?
1: Well, the head coach’s oft-repeated pronouncements that he “isn’t an X’s and O’s guy,” and that the game “isn’t about X’s and O’s,” seem to be hogwash. Indeed, Tortorella appears to be every bit as much about using video to teach as was his predecessor, Tom Renney, not that that’s a bad thing.
Tortorella may encourage more instinctive play from his athletes than many of the league’s more defense-oriented coaches, and he might be a greater believer in the upside of risk/reward hockey than the individual he replaced, but Tortorella, too, has a system he teaches. It’s not freestyle hockey by any means.
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Tortorella Discusses The Rangers Loss To The Penguins
by Paul on 03/28/09 at 08:49 PM ET
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Rangers coach John Tortorella seems a bit frustrated after the Rangers lost to the Penguins today. Torts also discusses the five minute interference call on Colton Orr in the 3rd period.
Watch the interference call on Orr below…
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
This Hiring Was Different
by Paul on 02/26/09 at 09:14 AM ET
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from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,
You see, one of these days Glen Sather will announce that he actually retired in 1992 but hasn’t bothered to inform anyone yet. Then the Rangers may have a chance of going somewhere. The Tortorella signing unusually was clever, even for Sather.
This coming after the Scott Gomez ($8 million US), Chris Drury ($7 million), Wade Redden ($8 million) and Markus Naslund ($5 million) signings were not.
That’s like messing up the cycle of free agency for the still irrelevant Sather. But getting Tortorella, man, this guy’s a pistol and when he’s comfortable enough to be himself, New York will eat him up with a spoon. He will be that delicious. He gives good sound byte. Even if he can’t change that dysfunctional roster which got a little bit stranger yesterday with Sather’s latest bit of sleep-walking, the claiming of Mark Bell on waivers from the Maple Leafs.
The hiring of Tortorella is different from most NHL hirings.
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
I, John Tortorella Agree…
by Paul on 02/25/09 at 06:58 PM ET
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from Allan Maki of the Globe and Mail,
When freshly-hired New York Rangers coach John Tortorella refused to discuss Sean Avery the other day - the same Avery who Tortorella used to roast during his TSN gig - most everyone suspected the awful truth: the Rangers were probably desperate enough to bring Avery back into the fold.
Now comes word from an NHL source that the Rangers are so intent on bringing Avery back they gave Tortorella a condition of employment: you can have the job but you’re almost certain to be coaching Avery before the season is done.
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Tags: John+Tortorella, Sean+Avery,
Rangers Needed A Change
by Paul on 02/24/09 at 10:45 AM ET
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from Stan Fischler of Game On,
In a sense Glen Sather—announcing his new coach and looking to the immediate and distant Rangers future—sounded the theme of a recently-elected president.
CHANGE!
His Blueshirts needed a different personality, with a louder voice who would provide the Rangers with a go-go attacking style rather than over-worrying about goals against.
More than anything, those points explain why John Tortorella is the new head coach and Tom Renney is on a sabbatical he would not have wished on himself.
Oh yeah, and there’s also a not-so-small matter of the Rangers possibly even slipping out of a playoff berth had the Old Guard remained behind the bench.
“Over the last couple of weeks I watched the team slide,” said Sather in a far-reaching conference call, “and our game eroded. This was obvious from the last couple of games.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Glen+Sather, John+Tortorella,
Bleepin’ Tortorella
by Paul on 02/24/09 at 05:47 AM ET
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from The Good, The Bad And The Duthie,
The night John Tortorella was hired by TSN, I made a confession to him. I told him I had always secretly hoped he’d be fired by Tampa, just so we might get a chance to bring him on the panel.
He swore at me. But he was smiling as he cursed.
No coach has ever brought me more amusement than Torts. His post-game news conferences were often better than the game.
“We need a BLEEP BLEEP occasional save. Four goals on 16 shots, I’m getting tired of the 25 percent rule.”
from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
The moment John Tor torella walks through the door of the Ranger locker room today to take command, that will be the end of the excuses and that will be the end of the crutches for a team whose players sure didn’t seem very sorry to see Tom Renney go yesterday.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting | KK Hockey | Permalink
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Tortorella Official
by Paul on 02/23/09 at 07:39 PM ET
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via Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
The Rangers have hired John Tortorella to be their next head coach in the wake of this morning’s dismissal of Tom Renney.
GM Glen Sather made the announcement several hours after Renney’s dismissal this morning. Tortorella, who received a multiyear contract, was en route to New York tonight and likely would run tomorrow’s practice.
added 8:21pm, from Scott Burnside of ESPN,
There is little in the way of top-end talent coming through the Rangers system, which you can thank Sather for as well, and too much overpaid, underachieving weight on the big-league roster.
As one GM told ESPN.com on Monday, “Who’s going to take those contracts?”
That’s a recipe for misery at the NHL level, and it’s the stew Sather built.
If there was any accountability in the Rangers’ boardroom (and the fact Sather has managed to consistently squander Dolan’s money all these years suggests there is none), then the moment this season ends, the search will begin for someone who can make things right in a place that has gone so wrong, and will be wrong for a long time coming.
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Report- Tortorella Agrees To Coach The Rangers
by Paul on 02/23/09 at 02:20 PM ET
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via Bob McKenzie of TSN,
Sources say the New York Rangers and John Tortorella have an agreement in place that would make him the next head coach of the NHL team, but that the Tampa Bay Lightning have not yet been contacted for permission.
added 3:30pm, According to Steve Zipay, it is a multi-year deal and the Lightning want compensation.
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Tortorella Hopes To Be Coaching Soon
by Paul on 12/18/08 at 10:17 AM ET
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from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,
While he’s definitely trying to relax in his year away from the bench, Tortorella is hardly a homebody. He travels from Tampa to Toronto, where TSN’s studio is located, every Monday and doesn’t return home until Thursday or Friday.
“I go to a great city in Toronto that is nothing but hockey and that has kept me a little fulfilled without coaching,” Tortorella said. “It has kept me around the game and understanding the nuances of what is going on around the League.”
Three coaches have been fired this season, and two were replaced by out of work coaches like himself, but Tortorella tries not to think about the fate of current coaches around the League.
“I try not to because it’s so unfair and it’s a lousy way to live, but you have people talking to you and you hear this and that,” Tortorella said. “I think there are a lot of good people in this game and we all know it’s part of the business. I certainly don’t wish anything bad on people because a lot of them are good friends of mine. I am going to try to go about this the right way and if things happen than they are supposed to happen.”
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Afternoon Line
by Paul on 09/04/08 at 01:22 PM ET
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“I’ll be honest with you, I’m out of my mind already because I’m not preparing the team,” he said Thursday. “That’s all I know how to do. That’s all I want to do is prepare a hockey team. It’s tough now that I’m not doing that.”
-John Tortorella and you can read more from John at Lightning Strikes…
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Scratch Tortorella Off Islanders List
by Paul on 08/08/08 at 09:40 PM ET
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from Greg Logan of Newsday,
Former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella, who was viewed by many as the most high-profile and possibly most high-priced candidate for the Islanders’ head-coaching vacancy, apparently is out of the mix. Money isn’t a major issue for Isles owner Charles Wang, but there always was a question whether Tortorella and a team committed to long-term development plan were the right fit for each other.
Islanders general manager Garth Snow is expected to sharply narrow his long list of candidates over the weekend and reach a decision on a successor to Ted Nolan early next week, an NHL source said. When contacted by Newsday, Tortorella politely declined to comment on his role in the Isles’ search process.
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Tortorella’s Big Ticket
by Alanah McGinley on 07/27/08 at 01:32 AM ET
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From the Boston Herald,
The big ticket on the carousel of coaching candidates that Garth Snow is running this summer belongs to former Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella, who is scheduled to meet with the New York Islanders general manager today.
Because he stands to collect $1.3 million for the remaining year of his Lightning contract, Tortorella can well afford to be choosy about his next job. That salary is slightly more than twice as much as former Isles coach Ted Nolan was believed to be making, but that’s what a 2004 Stanley Cup victory will get you. The Lightning’s obligation to Tortorella would be offset by whatever salary he makes in a new job this season.
continued... plus notes on the Bruins
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Tags: john+tortorella,
Islanders Interested In Tortorella
by Paul on 07/19/08 at 07:59 AM ET
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from Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune,
Former Lightning coach John Tortorella could be in line to take over the vacant head coaching position with the New York Islanders.
The Islanders have contacted Tampa Bay seeking permission to speak to Tortorella, the Tribune has learned. The Lightning have granted the Islanders their request to talk to Tortorella.
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Lecavalier on John Tortorella
by Alanah McGinley on 06/11/08 at 10:59 AM ET
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From Damian Cristodero at the St. Petersburg Times,
He appreciated the on-ice structure Tortorella brought in seven seasons as Lightning coach and said, “Definitely he will have success. I don’t think he’ll have a tough time finding another job.”
Still, the superstar center said, there were times last season that Tortorella’s finger-to-chest style was difficult for some younger players to handle.
“He was very tough on young players,” Lecavalier said. “His emotions sometimes made it difficult. I’m not saying that in a bad way. That’s the type of coach he is. He is very aggressive, very emotional and very into the game.”
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Tags: john+tortorella, vincent+lecavalier,
A Polite Dismissal
by Alanah McGinley on 06/04/08 at 11:19 AM ET
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From Adam Proteau at The Hockey News:
I think comedian George Carlin is one of the great minds of our time. And one of my favorite bits of his centers around the needless softening/wimpification of language. That was on display again Tuesday, when the Tampa Bay Lightning sent out an e-mail announcing head coach (and preferred target of this space) John Tortorella “will not return” to the team.
I suppose it was just too hurtful to say the guy was dismissed. Perhaps the next franchise that fires a coach can do the Bolts one better and issue a press release that reads, “Coach X will be coaching the team next season (in spirit only).”
It’s funny that Proteau mentions this. When we first got the press release about the Tortorella story, it did make me pause for a moment.
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Tags: barry+melrose, john+tortorella, media,
Lightning Fire Tortorella
by Alanah McGinley on 06/03/08 at 03:57 PM ET
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From the Globe & Mail:
The Tampa Bay Lightning announced Tuesday that John Tortorella will not return next season as the team’s head coach.
Tortorella has one season remaining on his contract.
More at the Tampa Bay Lightning website.
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Good-Bye Torts
by Paul on 05/31/08 at 07:40 AM ET
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from John Henderson of the Tampa Tribune,
So we prepare to bid farewell to “shut yer yap” - to a driven, relentless hockey man who could never play the good corporate soldier. You’d never call Torts a company man and I mean that in a good way.
We’ll remember how he built a team that made a city care, however briefly, about hockey. We’ll remember the seven-game knockout of Philadelphia to go to the Cup finals for the first time. We’ll remember how, down 3-2 and headed to Calgary, where they had the celebration ready, he guaranteed the Bolts would win.
They did.
Winning is all he cared about.
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Tampa Bay Gong Show
by Alanah McGinley on 05/26/08 at 07:09 PM ET
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From Eric Duhatschek at the Globe & Mail hockey blog,
A more intriguing story is what will happen next in the organization if and when the Oren Koules group completes its purchase of the team from Palace Sports & Entertainment. The assumption is that Koules will then ask Feaster to replace his current coach, John Tortorella, with Barry Melrose, the ESPN analyst and coach of the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings team that went to the 1993 Stanley Cup final. Koules is from Chicago; he played junior hockey in the Western League, for a time in Great Falls and then in Medicine Hat. That’s the connection to Melrose - that and the fact that because of his ESPN platform, Melrose may be one of the most recognizable faces in hockey south of the 49th parallel, even if he hasn’t coached in more than a decade and the game has changed in so many dramatic ways since he last worked behind an NHL bench.
If Tampa shows signs of being a gong show, how will Vincent Lecavalier respond to ongoing attempts to sign him to a what could amount to a lifetime contract extension? He might just ask that negotiations be put off until everything settles out between the old and new ownership groups and he can see how the front-office shapes up.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: barry+melrose, espn, john+tortorella, oren+koules, vincent+lecavalier,
Bad Day for the Judge
by Alanah McGinley on 05/12/08 at 01:20 PM ET
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Team USA’s loss to Finland yesterday has produced a hailstorm of criticism for the officials based on a goal scored by Finland that led to their late rally. For anyone who hasn’t seen the controversial non-goal—which was reviewed by the video judge and still declared a goal—it can be seen on the video below.
Both teams agree it was a major error, as can be seen in the post-game reaction on this TSN clip.
Update 10:23am May 13: From The Chronicle Herald,
The video goal judge was dismissed by the International Ice Hockey Federation after the botched call. The IIHF acknowledged the goal “should not have counted” on its website and stated the goal judge will “not be working for the rest of the tournament.”
“It’s a mistake,” Esche said. “The guy made a mistake and you have to live with it.”
U.S. head coach John Tortorella wasn’t as forgiving on Monday.
“Did they sack him? They should,” Tortorella said. “I don’t know how they handled it but as far as dismissing him, yes I support it.
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Tags: john+tortorella, team+finland, team+usa,
Tortorella Leaving May Be A Good Thing
by Paul on 04/25/08 at 01:02 PM ET
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from Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune,
I think the Torts-led Lightning are played out.
Leaving this franchise might be the best thing for him, if not the franchise.
Yes, part of me says keep the coach, ditch the GM and hope for wondrous new ownership. Ah, the perfect world. It won’t happen.
Johnny Torts would get another job in about 139 seconds. He’d coach on. It just shouldn’t be here.
Four years ago, the Lightning won one more Stanley Cup than we ever thought they would, and Tortorella was a driving force, pushing, prodding, winning.
He’s a great coach. I like him. I love his honesty. And he cracks me up. But he’s not the man to carry this team forward, with the wiring and patience to retool and rebuild, especially with the ongoing fouled-up sale of the team.
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Confusing Statements By Tortorella
by Paul on 04/24/08 at 05:08 AM ET
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from the St. Petersburg Times,
John Tortorella wishes he could do it over again because he certainly would do it differently.
The Lightning coach said he regrets telling general manager Jay Feaster perhaps it was time he step down because he discovered that is not how he feels.
“I want to stay here and fight and try to make this team better with the new ownership group and Jay Feaster,” Tortorella said Wednesday. “I want to be part of the retooling.”
But at his postseason meeting with Feaster, Tortorella said the opposite; that after seven seasons and finishing 2007-08 last in the league, “Maybe there needs to be a different voice.”
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Morning Line
by Paul on 03/31/08 at 10:16 AM ET
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from the St. Peterburg Times,
Tortorella said, and Thrashers general manager Don Waddell confirmed, it took a commitment from USA Hockey to supply young players that are “ready to win” to seal the deal.
“We need to look by the old school,” Tortorella said. “We want players to go over there and want to play, not look at it as a chance for a vacation and then play some hockey.”
Tortorella stressed, “This isn’t a criticism of anybody else. It’s just something I believe in. You play to win. It’s a great situation in the changing of the guard.”
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Morning Line
by Paul on 03/27/08 at 09:22 AM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
Lightning coach John Tortorella has been chosen by USA Hockey to coach in this year’s World Championships in Canada. Word is he is bringing associate coach Mike Sullivan with him....
Imagine the scene if the United States knocks Russia out of the semifinals. Torts at his postgame press conference. “It looks good on ‘em,’’ he will say. “I never liked that organization.’’
Those of you who recall his statements after the recent Panthers game will get that. For the rest: it’s a joke.
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Why Tortorella Stays
by Paul on 03/13/08 at 08:55 AM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
As for Torts quitting? Would you leave $1.3-million in the table? Besides, I’m sure he wants to see Prague (kidding).
So get used to the idea of Tortorella coming back. Things may change, of course. Koules may not get it done. Tortorella might say something even Wilson can’t abide. But given the current lay of the land, I’d say bet even money Tortorella and his staff returns to start the 2008-09 season.
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Tortorella Style May Be Wearing Thin
by Paul on 02/20/08 at 01:09 PM ET
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from Adam Proteau of the Hockey News,
Speaking of the Lightning – a retired NHLer and one-time assistant coach weighed in Tuesday on the Bolts’ need for a coaching change.
“It’s clear that team has stopped listening to (John) Tortorella,” the former player, who asked that his name not be used, told THN.com. “And that’s not saying Torts has forgotten how to coach. But guys who use his (hard-edged) style only have a limited shelf life....”
more and Richards talk too…
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Prospal Speaks Like Tortorella
by Paul on 02/13/08 at 08:39 AM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
But it was difficult to ignore Prospal’s outburst, though Torts did his best.
“I’m not here to be the happy man and make everybody happy,’’ he said. “I’m here to make calls as far as the game is concerned.’’
And this after Torts was asked if he sensed some relief in Prospal:
“I’m sure there was quite a bit of relief and a few other things, too. That’s life. He played really well. Athletes that are upset, they contribute and help the team win, coaches are happy. This isn’t a touchy-feely thing here or love fest. This is a game of hockey and we’re fighting for our life.’’
what did Prospal say, well read on…
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Tags: John+Tortorella, Vinny+Prospal,
No Clowning Around For Tortorella
by Paul on 12/06/07 at 08:13 AM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
A day after the whole media clowns thing, we decide it would be funny if when coach Tortorella came in to meet with reporters today after practice at the St. Pete Times Forum, we all would wear red clown noses. Low and behold, one of the media relations people for the Lightning said he had a box of red noses from when the circus was in town, and he runs to his office to get them.
So Torts comes into the meeting room, looks at four people with red noses, breathes deeply and says, “Great guys. Can we get going here, please. I have things to do.”
Didn’t even break a grin.
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Always Good With The Quotes
by Paul on 12/05/07 at 02:28 PM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
The interview finally wound around to how Lightning players were quite down on themselves after the game; glad for the victory but upset that they let the third period get away from them by allowing two goals in 36 seconds with under two minutes remaining.
Said Tortorella: “The team has always been that way,’’ meaning good at self-assessment. “Some of the (media) clowns around here don’t understand it. Not you two,’’ he said of me and Erik.
Tortorella didn’t say at whom he was upset. But something certainly got under his skin somewhere between the morning skate and the end of the game.
read on… you will find out who are not the clowns…
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Tags: John+Tortorella,
Tortorella 10K Lighter
by Paul on 11/21/07 at 05:23 PM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
Tortorella was fined $10,000 by the league today for blasting league on-ice officials after some questionable calls hurt his team Monday night. The coach reached a boiling point after his team blew a 3-1 lead and a phantom holding penalty on Brad Richards in overtime led to Atlanta’s game-winning goal.
“The frustrating part for me is these organizations pay the players millions upon millions of dollars,” Tortorella said. “They’re the ones who need to decide outcomes of games....
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Tags: John+Tortorella, tampa+bay+lightning,
Defense Creating Offense in Tampa
by Alanah McGinley on 11/17/07 at 12:57 PM ET
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From the Tampa Tribune,
It took Lightning defensemen 36 games last season to reach double figures in goals scored. It took them half as long, 18 games, to reach 10 goals collectively this season.
And that’s with 20-goal scorer Dan Boyle (left wrist surgery) out for all but four games.
What’s happened, with Boyle out of the picture, is that Coach John Tortorella’s blue liners have begun to become more conscious of trying to help scoring opportunities when they’re available.
“If you’re asking your forwards to play on the other side of the puck defensively,” Tortorella said Friday, “we ask our defensemen to play on the other side of the puck, offensively. We feel like we have the people. It’s just a matter of willingness to get up the ice and make it happen.”
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Tags: john+tortorella, tampa+bay+lightning,
Players Aren’t Prepared To Be Hit
by Paul on 11/07/07 at 06:48 PM ET
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from On Frozen Pond,
Torts even used Denis Potvin as an example in his pregame press conference, saying the league has gone soft. He says in Denis’ day, players expected to be hit and how a player took a hit was a big part of how the game was played. Now, he says, players don’t expect to be hit.
more and you can see today’s pre-game press conference below…
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Tags: denis+potvin, John+Tortorella, tampa+bay+lightning,
Tortorella Safe
by Paul on 11/05/07 at 02:52 PM ET
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from Bob McKenzie of TSN,
One day Feaster will have to fire Tortorella – eventually, every GM does it – but that day doesn’t look as though it will happen any time soon.
What’s more likely to happen is the Lightning looking for goaltending help. Johan Holmqvist’s play was problematic on Saturday night and the Lightning were out-goaled by Rick DiPietro on Long Island last week. Prior to that, in games against New Jersey and the New York Rangers, the Lightning looked lethargic and uninspired, which helped fuel some of that Tortorella talk.
added 3:11pm, from Lightning Strikes on a trade for a goalie,
Never say never, but as it stands now, such a trade is very, very remote for several reasons. The Lightning already is about $2-million over its self-imposed $44-million salary cap, so any trade, unless ownership had a 180-degree change of heart regarding how much it is willing to pay, would have to include payroll going out. Who do you get rid of?
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Tags: John+Tortorella, tampa+bay+lightning,
Line Of The Day
by Paul on 09/20/07 at 05:53 PM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,… John Tortorella on training camp soreness & injuries…
“...I’m not going to wait because of a name or because of someone projected. I’m not too interested in projections. I’m interested in getting people on the ice and getting their work done. I’m not coming down on any body here, I just want define it. Everybody is sore. Everybody is nicked up once you start camp. That’s what we go by here....”
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Tags: injuries, John+Tortorella, tampa+bay+lightning,
