All-Encompassing Tortorella/Sather Thread

[offdacrossbar]

Wouldn't that mean he is playing to the teams strengths? Best goalie in the world? World-class defense? Solid 2-way forwards? Sure the Rangers have some offensive weapons, and the team has opened the system up slightly, but when you are built from the net out, why not use that as your strength?

one way of looking at it.

i think torts wins not due to his system but due to his world class goaltender.

i just dont think his "system" is viable on a cup run and i have serious doubts whether we can win the whole thing with him as our coach.

not a fan of much of what else has been detailed here. at some point it seems in almost every game, i say to myself... i would love to see this team with a more forward thinking offensive minded coaching staff. they could do some damage.

this isnt the offensively challenged team of a few seasons ago. theres more there than what hes getting out of this team.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Wouldn't that mean he is playing to the teams strengths? Best goalie in the world? World-class defense? Solid 2-way forwards? Sure the Rangers have some offensive weapons, and the team has opened the system up slightly, but when you are built from the net out, why not use that as your strength?

Because that's not how I play with the Rangers in NHL 13 and I win all the time!

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

PAP continues to score . He was t a Torts kind of guy . Just another mid management of personnel by the Clown . Side show coach , side show decisions . Worst PP in league . What more is there to say .

Dont sell yourself short. Im sure youll find much more to whine about.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

I enjoy torts coaching. Only gripe I have is the offense set ups. We need to open that up a wee bit more.

 

[haveandare]

Approve overall.

He's had some problems for sure (horrible PP, questionable TOI for certain players) but in my opinion, most of the players looked like garbage to start. I'm not sure how much of the sloppy play was coaching. The season being uncertain to even happen for so long, the short camp, and the lack of preseason all likely played in to so many guys starting with so much rust. Combine that with high roster turnover and the start was a mess. The team is starting to come together now as everyone is hitting their stride and getting comfortable with one another.

Torts has been pretty flexible so far in my opinion. He broke up that powerhouse line once they started getting stale, he made a series of moves between the AHL and the NHL in search of the right combinations for the bottom 6, he benched Boyle who people whine about him playing favorite with and then let him back in and the results have been positive so far.

At this point, it's all about the PP. He needs to find a way to structure it in order to have success. It doesn't need to be the best in the league with the way the team plays, but it needs to be threatening and it hasn't been yet.

A lot of the hate for him is completely illogical. He's been good so far and in my opinion he was great last year.

 

[Vickers8]

My son was at Torts pre-game press conference vs Caps, he said Torts was hot as a pistol, question how is Nash, I don't answer questions on injuries, next question, how does Nash's injury affect the lineup. I don't answer questions on injuries, next question, 3rd question John when you were with tampa...I'm not with tampa, next question!

 

[SickNice]

Approve. Clearly I'm not happy with the PP (no one is) but I approve of the overall body of work.

Torts has a rap, probably rightfully so, for being very stubborn. But you have to give him credit for being flexible and taking different approaches thatn he is accustomed to re: practice / how he manages players with the lockout shortened year.

 

[aim2win]

The Rangers were the 2nd best team in the league last year. The power play was 23rd in the league.

Based on the results that Torts has achieved... it seems to me there should be less naysayers and more supporters.... especially considering the team has many new parts and a short camp.

The team is now 7-2-1 in the last 10 games.
- The GF for last season was 2.75 and right now it's 2.71. Trending up (good)
- The GA is definitely more of a problem. It was 2.28 last year and now its 2.5. Trending down (good)

Although both GA and GF are moving in the right direction... the trendline for GF is much more encouraging.

 

[The Mouth]

.

The dumb minority likes to run their yappers a lot. Good thing they're the minority because if they got their way they'd run this team into the ground. It's incredible how arrogant they can be and how little they understand both hockey and pro-sports in general.

John Tortorella I love You.. I honestly Love you.

 

[RGY]

I'm joining the fire Torts bandwagon. I defended him in the past but this has become too much. He sucks. His offensive philosophy is dump and chase...that was literally his gameplan tonight for the montreal game. He has talented forwards who can skate the puck in but those players don't even know how to do that anymore because they are used to just dumping it in. It happens on the PP too. And I'm sick of his treatment of Kreider. He was by no means flattering tonight but neither was anyone else. But to sit him in and not richards is a ****ing joke. And allowing richards to take that faceoff late was a damn crime.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Does Tortorella's act wear on the players?

I like Torts (mostly because I did not like Renney), and I think he and Hank were the two people most directly responsible for our playoff run last year. That said, you have to wonder if Tortorella's manic act behind the bench (and in post game press conferences, and probably in the locker room, and possibly at practices) doesn't have a negative effect on the team at times.

Thanks partially to Torts, much of this team has been through playoff wars and come out on top, and should not get rattled in regular season games. I know it's a shortened season, everything is magnified regular-season-wise this year, etc., but it's still the regular season. These games are blips on the radar screen compared to the pressure the team faced in games six and seven against Ottawa and Washington, and game six against New Jersey.

But, that said, this team all too often plays like it's scared to death of making a mistake. In recent games like the game at Boston and the home game vs Long Island, when things started going against them they should have been able to draw on their big game experience and at least attempted to right the ship...but instead they soiled their pants and could not do anything right.

Then last night....jeez. Simply keeping the puck on their stick while the game was on the line was a challenge. Swings and misses, fumbling the puck right out of the zone on the late power play, being unable to even keep possession under minimal pressure...seemed like they were afraid to do anything wrong...or right.

Disclaimer....I like Tortorella, I am not calling for him to be removed, I think his intensity will serve the team well in the playoffs again, assuming we make them...I just wonder if he doesn't wear his players out at times.

 

[BBKers]

I think most people that have played organized hockey at a higher level and/or enjoy watching a game with a reasonable skillset have been thinking along these lines:

"I really cannot stand the way this team is playing, it is boring to watch, it is counteroffensive, it is Neanderthalesque and mindnumbing to be honest." But due to the success on the scoreboard (at least last year) and the blind love for The Rangers franchise however they play as along with it as long as they win games. I readily admit I have been weak enough to count myself as a bandwagoner that can counted into this category. It is hard to counter an ECF birth - even though you think "Is this really fun to watch" - because it in the End is great to see The Rangers WIN!

People have been accepting the system and the "style it employs" as long as it gives reasonable results. It just works that way.

But this non-coaching, "who needs a power play?", dump and chase (at every given opportunity), constant grinding along the boardplay, 6 goaltender defensive system (all vehemently directed from the coach as being "play with Jam a la Torts style") will wear pretty thin on most people very fast if there are no results to match the sacrifice one has to make to watch this ghastly style of destructive hockey the Rangers are now playing.

I think that therefore, along with the arrogance, attitude and the antics, the fall and demise of John Tortorella will go extremely fast once things go into that direction. People (players, fans & media) put up with anything as long as they win games. The educated mind will however not stand for such dismal results and hockey on a team this full of both acquired & homegrown hockey talent for very long.

Angry Villagers = Danger Danger
Torts Apologists need not answer...

 

[we want cup]

I'm joining the fire Torts bandwagon. I defended him in the past but this has become too much. He sucks. His offensive philosophy is dump and chase...that was literally his gameplan tonight for the montreal game. He has talented forwards who can skate the puck in but those players don't even know how to do that anymore because they are used to just dumping it in. It happens on the PP too. And I'm sick of his treatment of Kreider. He was by no means flattering tonight but neither was anyone else. But to sit him in and not richards is a ****ing joke. And allowing richards to take that faceoff late was a damn crime.

Kreider got 14+ minutes last night. For a rookie who didn't play very well, I'd say that's more than fair.

 

[Dorado*]

Every time I watch a NYR on the PP not playing there off side and have to wheel and turn to catch a pass and shoot I feel like crying . I actually scream . Please tell me why this basic tactical advantage is not utilized . Fast puck movement is completely negated due to this . Just once I'd like to see a one timer from the half boards / point or from the circles or in the slot . It's almost like the PP is configured to not give up a shorty instead of capitalizing on having an extra skater . It's mind numbing , cringe inducingly ridiculous .
Please try Gilroy or Stralman on left point McDonagh on right point , Stepan on left half wall , CALLY in middle and Nash when healthy on right side.
No more MDZ , Wade Richards , Girardi or Staal this can't possibly be any worse than worst in league can it ?
I don't care about Sullivan Torts the Clown is the Head Coach and should take the bull by the horns or be fired

 

[*Bob Richards*]

For the most part, I think Torts' game-plan works. Unfortunately, it isn't applicable to every team in the NHL and you will always need to adapt. I think Torts' ego stands in the way of that adaption and it kinda leaves me on the fence with him at times.

A good coach and a smart coach, but an arrogant stickler who would rather go down with the ship than attempt anything drastic.

 

[Dorado*]

Best game I watched all year was the NYR trading chances with Tampa and blowing them out . Same goes for when we smoked the Isles .
Is there any difference between losing 3-1 and losing 4/3 or 5-4 ? . The games where we opened it up we were actually then able to establish a fore check and actually score off the rush . NYR possibly get the least odd man rushes for . I rather play a trap and counter than this stretch to tip and chase system . At least trap and counter or left wing lock and counter creates some odd man chances . Any team against us who had a goalie who can handle the puck a little or isn't a tactical Bufoon knows to keep a d man back and be ready to go other way with speed and stretch us , like the NJD and Pens do time and again .

 

[gmerger37]

I said it in the PGT, but Torts' stubbornness and refusal to adjust and adapt in game and game to game will be his downfall here in NY.

This team has to much effin' talent to be so abysmal on the PP and so low in the standings thus far.

 

[Blueshirt Special]

We'll win...

 

[jskramer83]

I am still curious as too why Torts messed with the lines, for the Islander game?

This team was playing some very good hockey when with the top 6 being;

Hagelin - Stepan - Nash
Gaborik - Richards - Pyatt
Kreider - Miller - Callahan

I understand wanting to get boyle back in the game, and honestly I think he has played well since, but ever since the change this team has not looked quite as sharp. He needs to stop going with his "Gut" and go to a if its not broke don't fix it mentality.

With the players we have, there is no reason we can't put together 3 threatening lines:

Hagelin - Stepan - Nash
Gaborik - Richards - Miller
Kreider - Boyle - Callahan

 

[OverTheCap]

Some games the coaching is at fault, but im not sure last night was one of them. Tough to blame the dump and chase philosophy in a game in which some players would repeatedly carry the puck over the blue line only to make an errant pass to a linemate or mishandle the puck. Richards did this multiple times last night as did Del Zotto and Gaborik.

As I mentioned in the GDT, I think failure to execute is what stood out most. The Rangers tried to be aggressive with Staal joining in the rush and it ended up with a goal against. Except for Hags, the players weren't doing much of anything right last night.

 

[Whiplash27]

What ever happened to "Safe is death." The only reason why that was supposedly dropped in the past was because the Rangers didn't have the personnel to employ such a system. The defense wasn't that great and they didn't have many good offensive forwards. Now the Rangers have one of the deepest defenses in the league, the best goalie in the world, and an offense with three stars and quite a few very good players and yet they still play extremely safe.

 

[Ail]

I hate how this team is coached. They are neutered. It's a mostly boring on ice product and sucks the life out of the team at times. It's hard to say anything when they're winning, but with so much talent, the worst PP, a weak transition game, zero creativity and passing that makes you wonder if this is an NHL team, you have to wonder when it stops being a player issue and becomes a coaching issue.

It's getting old.

 

[Dorado*]

Just Fire the Clown already . Not sure who replaces him but someone who will take the training wheels off this team and let them try an splay with some speed and creativity. to me it looks like every single player has lost a feel for playing hockey and is a mechanical robot trying to only be in certain positions on the ice . Playing defense in spite of offense . Occasionally they get into some hockey with flow and trading chances and IMO it looks good .
Torts the Clown doesn't coach to win ....
He coaches not to lose his job which means calculated risks and an utterly draconian system of coaching .
Take off the training wheels Clown!!!!

 

[Crease]

If Ruff gets the ax in Buffalo, then things get interesting. Until then, I don't see any compelling replacements for Torts.

 

[KingWantsCup]

We can win a cup under Tortorella as long as we don't run into Pittsburgh or Montreal in the playoffs. With that said the on ice product is underhwelming to watch at times. The offense is the same thing over and over and over again.

Dump.

Chase.

Overload.

What is the obsession with the overload offense? This makes zero sense. As if our D-men are even qualified enough offensively to run something like this. You can do this all day if you have Erik Karlsson on your team, but not when your D-men don't have a powerful shot or even get their shots on net for that matter. It's about creating rebounds/screens in an overload offense and it's just garbage with this team. This is the least creative offense there is.