Around the NHL: Congrats Hawks on winning the STANLEY CUP

[Doctor King Schultz]

Great stuff:

https://twitter.com/weaglemonkey/status/349589453628657664/photo/1

This is hilarious

 

[Overcast]

Nvm.

 

[NYR94]

Who needs a starting goalie now? Calgary?

 

[Thirty One]

Who needs a starting goalie now? Calgary?

Philadelphia, Phoenix.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I'm more of a MAF-Vokoun fan myself

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

In anyone wants to watch Torts being introduced to the media, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/Canucks

 

[poeman]

Torts complimenting someone on a questions "great question"

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Torts said he doesn't think he had the team prepared well enough to play in the second round.

 

[Kershaw]

Lol Torts said the Sedins will block shots.

Mike Gillis said it perfectly, Torts adapted to his roster to become a 6 goalie system due to personnel.

 

[poeman]

SAVE BY SEDIN, another save by Sedin! Another block by Sedin...Slides it and dives, SAVE BY SEDIN!

I look forward to seeing the transformation...Btw, 5 year contract for Torts

 

[Thirty One]

I don't know what was more surprising, that Tortorella doesn't use Behind The Net, or that he doesn't speak French.

 

[Vidic15*]

Lol Torts said the Sedins will block shots.

Mike Gillis said it perfectly, Torts adapted to his roster to become a 6 goalie system due to personnel.

Right, because there is no other way to play defense.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

I'm sure the Vancouver fanbase is going to be thrilled when Torts benches the Sedins because they aren't blocking shots/first neutral zone turnover/lack jam. Then I'm sure they are going to be just as thrilled when Henrik or Daniel lays out and has their ankle shattered by a Doughty slapshot.

How long until we take on their contracts for Boyle and a 5th?

 

[Kershaw]

Right, because there is no other way to play defense.

Of course there is, you don't need to be physical or block shots to play good defense at all. But with the roster that the teflon GM created, how can you possibly expect the players to run a puck possession system?

 

[JohnC]

You teach them?

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Torts said he doesn't think he had the team prepared well enough to play in the second round.

I like his humility. I'll miss Torts.

Lol Torts said the Sedins will block shots.

Mike Gillis said it perfectly, Torts adapted to his roster to become a 6 goalie system due to personnel.

Agreed with Gillis.

 

[Kershaw]

You teach them?

So you're suggesting that we somehow 'teach' Boyle, Callahan, Dorsett, Pyatt and co to develop vision for the game? Playing puck possession hockey is a trait where a player is naturally gifted with holding onto the puck and having vision for the game, it simply can't be taught.

The Rangers core consists of grenade handlers with the puck. It's like teaching Alex Ovechkin to emulate Pavel Datsyuk's defensive stature and style.

Torts was given a roster filled with physical shot blocking players, so it makes sense to emulate that playing style.

 

[Kershaw]

Three key stats about the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks

1.) Hits: 840. This number put them last in the NHL. Repeat. Last in the NHL.

2.) Blocked shots: 652. This number was 21st in the NHL. Again, near the bottom.

3.) Fenwick Close: 55.80. This number was second-best in the NHL. And this is the big one.

When you see the Blackhawks with a mark of 55.80, that means they attempted more than 55 percent of the total shot attempts. That is a huge advantage and takes a lot of pressure off their goalies.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/e...t-the-stanley-cup-champion-chicago-blackhawks

'Nuff said.

 

[Vidic15*]

So you're suggesting that we somehow 'teach' Boyle, Callahan, Dorsett, Pyatt and co to develop vision for the game? Playing puck possession hockey is a trait where a player is naturally gifted with holding onto the puck and having vision for the game, it simply can't be taught.

The Rangers core consists of grenade handlers with the puck. It's like teaching Alex Ovechkin to emulate Pavel Datsyuk's defensive stature and style.

Torts was given a roster filled with physical shot blocking players, so it makes sense to emulate that playing style.

Torts wanted those type of players, then when things didn't work out he asked Sather to change personnel. He got Nash then he traded Gaborik. Torts still complained, he's an Ahole.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

Of course there is, you don't need to be physical or block shots to play good defense at all. But with the roster that the teflon GM created, how can you possibly expect the players to run a puck possession system?

I don't know... allow them to play it? When the Rangers WEREN'T constantly collapsing or playing ultra-safe-dump-it-in hockey, they excelled on the forecheck and wearing out the opposition down low. Look at the Pack Line from 2010-11. Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan would run around the offensive zone with the puck for up to a minute at a time. Hags-Richards-Gaborik showed glimpses of this, as well.

Currently constructed, with Nash, Brassard, Zuccarello, Hagelin, Callahan (guys who are already good possession players. Yes, Callahan excels along the boards more than open ice but it's still possession) and cultivating that attitude and style amongst the other forwards, they certainly CAN play a puck possession game. And they have to. This is three straight years now of being run down come playoff time and then allowing the other team unfettered and unchallenged chance after chance from up high.

No more. Time to be aggressive, get the puck, transition to offense, and use their talent to get some pucks in the net. 3-2, 2-1, and shootout wins can get you into the playoffs, NOT the Final.

 

[Kershaw]

Torts wanted those type of players, then when things didn't work out he asked Sather to change personnel. He got Nash then he traded Gaborik. Torts still complained, he's an Ahole.

Proof? Or is this your personal emotion telling you this as a fact?

I love how Sather is not at fault here for changing the core of this team. No wonder he is still in charge, most fans seem content with his actions and barely critique his constant garbage roster overhauls.

 

[Fitzy]

That the best US born player of this particular generation also happens to be a massive tool sort of bites. It is what it is, though. They can't all be Brian Leetch.

 

[Thirty One]

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/e...t-the-stanley-cup-champion-chicago-blackhawks

'Nuff said.

If those stats were meaningful the team that was first would have won the Cup.

 

[silverfish]

Proof? Or is this your personal emotion telling you this as a fact?

I love how Sather is not at fault here for changing the core of this team. No wonder he is still in charge, most fans seem content with his actions and barely critique his constant garbage roster overhauls.

Torts was begging for more offense at the end of the 2012 playoffs. Sather got it for him. Nothing changed.

The true fall of the team this past year was Tortorella expecting square pegs to fit into round holes. Sather got him a team with more skill, and Torts wanted them to play the way the 11-12 team did. It was a terrible decision on the coaches part. I don't see how the team at the start of the '13 season on paper was a team destined to be made into a 6-goalie team.

Loaded with speed, decent enough depth, and a plethora of two-way defensemen. Block shots, play below the goal line, or get traded/benched.

This year's team could have been more. It still frustrates me.

 

[OverTheCap]

Last summer, Tortorella wanted more depth on offense, and he wanted to shore up the blueline. Neither of those things happened, and we ended up having less depth than we did the season before.

On being better, “we need to secure more on our blue line. We need to add more depth up front. We were 11th in the NHL in scoring but I still believe that we need to add something there. I don’t think you can sit still and you need to get better in all areas. We have a world class goalie who gives us an opportunity every night. I think he made a tremendous step this year but we are still going to ask more our of him if we want to get where we want to be.”

http://snyrangersblog.com/coachesgm/john-tortorella/updating-john-tortorella-on-mike-francesa/