Do you approve or disaprove of John Tortorella

[Viqsi]

I don't need to restart the rants here; folks already know how much I disapprove and why.

I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised by the guy, but I consider it about as likely as my winning the lottery tomorrow (without having purchased a lottery ticket).

 

[Monk]

I don't need to restart the rants here; folks already know how much I disapprove and why.

I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised by the guy, but I consider it about as likely as my winning the lottery tomorrow (without having purchased a lottery ticket).

I'll buy you a ticket just in case.

 

[pl4tinum]

I don't need to restart the rants here; folks already know how much I disapprove and why.

I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised by the guy, but I consider it about as likely as my winning the lottery tomorrow (without having purchased a lottery ticket).

His success will correlate directly to the talent he's given by JK. So in otherwords, he won't likely be any more successful than Todd Richards was.

 

[These Are The Days]

Lightning fan on John Tortorella

He's the coach you love to hate. He reminds me a lot of Peter Laviolette in Nashville in the sense that he can take over and all of a sudden your team is a instant contender within his first few seasons. Players buy into him, they bleed for him, they do EVERYTHING they ask because John comes in with a focused plan that delivers INSTANT results when the team buys in.

He's north/south, his system requires hockey sense to at least a semi-elite degree and A LOT of toughness. Sense meaning you have a defender bearing down on you as you cross the blue line, have the sense to chip it in. Assume the puck swings behind the net into the opposite corner. Any player observing down the rush will go after it and another player goes in to support the play. You have two men on the boards against one or two. There's your toughness. You win the puck battle and get it to the man in open space that the defenders are not paying attention to, take a shot.

It's pretty much what every freaking coach in the history of the NHL does. Difference with Tortorella is that he wants your boys to go out there and kill themselves for him because he believes in the war of attrition. You PHYSICALLY break the other team's will and you come out on top. And it worked to perfection for the Lightning in the 2000's and again with the Rangers.

John is different because he has gotten blood from many a stone because he holds no punches and knows how to push the right buttons to make a player reach new levels of dominance. He is EXACTLY what the Jackets need right now. On many nights will come out with fire and brimstone and verbally abuse the hell out of your team and it works to perfection because he has the proper amount of venom and wrath that makes any truly competitive player say, "He's not wrong you know" and then the team comes out and plays like gangbusters both out of fear and respect of him. Guys like Marty St. Louis, Brad Richards and Dave Andreychuk are players who wanted to win just as badly as Torts did and the Lightning would come out and beat your ass. They saw their coach saying exactly what they felt and it worked. They were the most respected names in the locker room and the whole team would see them buy in and then the Lightning would win.

On CBJ be it Foligno, Ry-Jo or Hartnell, the message from Torts will fall clear and push you guys to new heights. The downside is that he wears thin very quickly because players can only handle so much of a domineering personality. If your team doesn't have a thick skin and can't handle criticism then look for Torts to be gone in 2 more years after this one.

The Lightning never won again under him because you know how Bobrovsky is the suck right now? Yeah. We never got a save when we needed it. Then when we stopped winning the Lightning stopped playing.

Good luck to you guys. I've always liked the Jackets and I'll keep an eye on ya.

 

[Kentucky]

I agree with the hiring. A coaching change had to be made, and there just weren't many available. Torts is a proven winner, but more importantly, he is a teacher and holds players accountable, which is probably the most important thing for our young team.

I like it more (trust it more) short term, but hope for long term success. Hopefully, Torts has reflected on his past mistakes and has worked to correct them so that he is able to have some longevity here.

 

[EDM]

Torts is a great pick for this tea. They need to be pushed and he will do it effectively.

 

[Forepar]

...his system requires hockey sense to at least a semi-elite degree...

This makes me very scared. We have 2 D with hockey sense, maybe one of which is semi-elite but unproven. The other 4 D lack hockey sense...

Lots more holes to fill than we thought. Good thing forward top 9 is solid with prospects coming, going to need some of them for trades later.

I wasn't ready to give up on season. The quote above pushed me over the edge. If the prior post of 95 points is accurate, we've got play at a pace the rest of the year that would generate 103-106 points if spread over an 82 game season. I keep thinking the season is young, that if we were 4-4, no big deal, so we are really only 8 points back of being where we need to be. Seems like a HUGE 8 points right now.

I'm meh on Torts. Hated to see TR go, but at 0-7-0 even I have to admit that they had to do something, and letting TR go was about the only option they had. To paraphrase someone's prior post, not a coaching problem but an architect problem. C'mon Jarmo, show what you've got this Spring at trade deadline.

 

[CarolinaBlueJacket]

I disapprove if he has not expanded his toolbox from having a hammer and only a hammer. If he has grown then it could be good.

 

[Skraut]

Maybe it's just me, but I know I'll have a hard time watching somebody be a raging a-hole in front of a wall full of CBJ logos.

 

[major major]

Maybe it's just me, but I know I'll have a hard time watching somebody be a raging a-hole in front of a wall full of CBJ logos.

For me it entirely depends on what he's being a raging a-hole about. Confronting Joey for lazy play? All about it.

 

[The Jones Zone]

Did anyone else hear that POS Doug Maclean on Hockey Central Thursday.

He was making ridiculous claims about TR last game coached.

1) First he implied it was someone else's decision to play Curtis instead of Bob...as managment wanted to make sure they lost as they had already decided to hire Torts and didn't want to fire TR after a win

2) Then he said if it was TR choice to play Curtis he was ludicrous because he knew he needed to win and Bob would have gave him the best chance

3) Then the moron went on to say he would have played Bob "as punishment" because it was his poor play that had Richards job on the line

Talk about sour grapes from the damn loser who couldn't put together a team to get close to the playoffs after his success with Florida.

He lost any respect I had for him, which wasn't much to begin with

FU Maclean

 

[NotWendell]

Did anyone else hear that POS Doug Maclean on Hockey Central Thursday.

He was making ridiculous claims about TR last game coached.

1) First he implied it was someone else's decision to play Curtis instead of Bob...as managment wanted to make sure they lost as they had already decided to hire Torts and didn't want to fire TR after a win

2) Then he said if it was TR choice to play Curtis he was ludicrous because he knew he needed to win and Bob would have gave him the best chance

3) Then the moron went on to say he would have played Bob "as punishment" because it was his poor play that had Richards job on the line

Talk about sour grapes from the damn loser who couldn't put together a team to get close to the playoffs after his success with Florida.

He lost any respect I had for him, which wasn't much to begin with

FU Maclean

Item #3 is exactly why XGMDM is not fit to be a coach or a GM in the NHL.

 

[EspenK]

I approve

Why? He has already one a Cup and went to the East Finals another year

Now if he can just get a Cup here two he'd be the Lawrence Welk of coaching.

 

[Mikos87]

You guys will like him if they're winning, hate him if they're losing. As polarizing he can be, he takes the public pressure off of the players and puts it on himself.

Behind the scenes, he'll really get on on guys. He treats all of his players the same, holds them all to the same standards.

That rubs some star players the wrong way, but if they're young enough, then he does a great job of bringing them up well.

He's on his 4th team now, but he's had some long stints in TB and NY. The guy has the pieces he needs on CLB to be successful except for reliable defenseman.

The two goals against that came in MIN with Jack Johnson making a mistake twice will drive him nuts. He's going grind on Jack.

He hates soft plays and casual mistakes. You'll see him erupt on the bench from time to time.

The thing with Johanson can be a boom or bust depending on Johanson's reaction. If he's going to take it and sink then you'll get a player that will want out. If you get a player whose going to put it out there on the ice, then you'll see him hit super stardom.

The problem with Torts has been he can't coach all personalities of players. Soft euroleague types just quit on him.

You'll see him pick up the defensemen's minutes if they play well, and bury guys that make mistakes.

My hunch is that he'll either turn Jack Johnson into something competent, or drive him out of town by the deadline.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Given his age and issues at his other jobs, this is probably his last top job. He either wins here and stays in the job for awhile, or he blows up magnificently and retires to TV for good.

 

[We Want Ten]

You guys will like him if they're winning, hate him if they're losing. As polarizing he can be, he takes the public pressure off of the players and puts it on himself.

Behind the scenes, he'll really get on on guys. He treats all of his players the same, holds them all to the same standards.

That rubs some star players the wrong way, but if they're young enough, then he does a great job of bringing them up well.

He's on his 4th team now, but he's had some long stints in TB and NY. The guy has the pieces he needs on CLB to be successful except for reliable defenseman.

The two goals against that came in MIN with Jack Johnson making a mistake twice will drive him nuts. He's going grind on Jack.

He hates soft plays and casual mistakes. You'll see him erupt on the bench from time to time.

The thing with Johanson can be a boom or bust depending on Johanson's reaction. If he's going to take it and sink then you'll get a player that will want out. If you get a player whose going to put it out there on the ice, then you'll see him hit super stardom.

The problem with Torts has been he can't coach all personalities of players. Soft euroleague types just quit on him.

You'll see him pick up the defensemen's minutes if they play well, and bury guys that make mistakes.

My hunch is that he'll either turn Jack Johnson into something competent, or drive him out of town by the deadline.

I'm still waiting to hear the negative? Seriously the knock on this guy is he is likes to yell and expects guys to perform their jobs? Really? Soft players wilt under him? Ok.

 

[Mayor Bee]

I'm still waiting to hear the negative? Seriously the knock on this guy is he is likes to yell and expects guys to perform their jobs? Really? Soft players wilt under him? Ok.

The way that you described it is a huge negative, and there's a reason why those guys don't last. And they don't last in hockey, in baseball, in business, at home, or anywhere else.

And before this leads off into some rant about "the modern athlete" or "kids these days are soft", this is nothing new. Alfred Spink wrote in 1910 after the death of the HOF pitcher John Clarkson at age 48:

Captain Anson said:
John Clarkson was one of the greatest pitchers that ever lived - many regard him as the greatest, but not many know what an amount of encouragement it took to keep him going.

Scold him, find fault with him, and he would not pitch at all.

Say to him after a game: "Grand work John, I will probably have to use you again to-morrow, for we've got to have that game," and he would go out the next day and stand all the batters on their heads.

There's an important note here. "Captain Anson" refers to Cap Anson, who was pretty notorious for having an explosive temper and a volume permanently on high. Yet even he knew that not everyone responded the same way, and that the best performance has to be drawn out of players. In the four years that Anson managed Clarkson, Clarkson had a 137-57 record and an ERA+ of 150.

Clarkson's death, by the way, came after a bout of pneumonia that he developed during convalescence in a mental asylum. He basically cracked under the strain of everyday life after retiring.

 

[pete goegan]

The way that you described it is a huge negative, and there's a reason why those guys don't last. And they don't last in hockey, in baseball, in business, at home, or anywhere else.

And before this leads off into some rant about "the modern athlete" or "kids these days are soft", this is nothing new. Alfred Spink wrote in 1910 after the death of the HOF pitcher John Clarkson at age 48:


There's an important note here. "Captain Anson" refers to Cap Anson, who was pretty notorious for having an explosive temper and a volume permanently on high. Yet even he knew that not everyone responded the same way, and that the best performance has to be drawn out of players. In the four years that Anson managed Clarkson, Clarkson had a 137-57 record and an ERA+ of 150.

Clarkson's death, by the way, came after a bout of pneumonia that he developed during convalescence in a mental asylum. He basically cracked under the strain of everyday life after retiring.

Torts has indicated that his method is to apply pressure, gauge its effect, and adjust accordingly. Theoretically, that is not an unsound approach.

 

[Mikos87]

I'm still waiting to hear the negative? Seriously the knock on this guy is he is likes to yell and expects guys to perform their jobs? Really? Soft players wilt under him? Ok.

Pretty much. He has a habit of treating media members as if they don't matter. That leads to his squabbles with them.

Basically he can't calm down after a loss, and needs a day before he should be allowed to speak publicly.

With the Rangers he did a lot with some weaker rosters, when he had his guys in his roles that fits his system, he'll win.

Let me put it to you this way, he needs 4 defensemen that can shutdown another team's top 6; and his bottom six forwards to wear other teams down while not making mistakes.

A gamebreaker or two up front, and decent goaltending.

I think CLB is missing the players on the backend, and goalie Bob needs his confidence up.

The forward group will buy in. You'll see a kid like Anderson come up sooner rather than later.

Guys like Goloubef and Johnson will have a short leash. He hates D-zone turnovers, and missed assignments in front the net.

You've seen him bring it up; a few more goals against like the Parise one, you'll get that volcanic eruption.

 

[NotWendell]

You guys will like him if they're winning, hate him if they're losing. As polarizing he can be, he takes the public pressure off of the players and puts it on himself.

Behind the scenes, he'll really get on on guys. He treats all of his players the same, holds them all to the same standards.

That rubs some star players the wrong way, but if they're young enough, then he does a great job of bringing them up well.

He's on his 4th team now, but he's had some long stints in TB and NY. The guy has the pieces he needs on CLB to be successful except for reliable defenseman.

The two goals against that came in MIN with Jack Johnson making a mistake twice will drive him nuts. He's going grind on Jack.

He hates soft plays and casual mistakes. You'll see him erupt on the bench from time to time.

The thing with Johanson can be a boom or bust depending on Johanson's reaction. If he's going to take it and sink then you'll get a player that will want out. If you get a player whose going to put it out there on the ice, then you'll see him hit super stardom.

The problem with Torts has been he can't coach all personalities of players. Soft euroleague types just quit on him.

You'll see him pick up the defensemen's minutes if they play well, and bury guys that make mistakes.

My hunch is that he'll either turn Jack Johnson into something competent, or drive him out of town by the deadline.

I think this is excellent analysis. Nodding my head at every bullet point.

 

[We Want Ten]

The way that you described it is a huge negative, and there's a reason why those guys don't last. And they don't last in hockey, in baseball, in business, at home, or anywhere else.

And before this leads off into some rant about "the modern athlete" or "kids these days are soft", this is nothing new. Alfred Spink wrote in 1910 after the death of the HOF pitcher John Clarkson at age 48:


There's an important note here. "Captain Anson" refers to Cap Anson, who was pretty notorious for having an explosive temper and a volume permanently on high. Yet even he knew that not everyone responded the same way, and that the best performance has to be drawn out of players. In the four years that Anson managed Clarkson, Clarkson had a 137-57 record and an ERA+ of 150.

Clarkson's death, by the way, came after a bout of pneumonia that he developed during convalescence in a mental asylum. He basically cracked under the strain of everyday life after retiring.

Some get the carrot, others get the stick. I get that a one size fits all approach isn't what works for everyone, but expecting guys to do their jobs and holding them accountable is now bad?
Btw, I fully expect to be discussing our new HC in 3 years or so, I view this hiring as a full on stop gap measure in response to the start of this season.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

You guys will like him if they're winning, hate him if they're losing. As polarizing he can be, he takes the public pressure off of the players and puts it on himself.

Behind the scenes, he'll really get on on guys. He treats all of his players the same, holds them all to the same standards.

That rubs some star players the wrong way, but if they're young enough, then he does a great job of bringing them up well.

He's on his 4th team now, but he's had some long stints in TB and NY. The guy has the pieces he needs on CLB to be successful except for reliable defenseman.

The two goals against that came in MIN with Jack Johnson making a mistake twice will drive him nuts. He's going grind on Jack.

He hates soft plays and casual mistakes. You'll see him erupt on the bench from time to time.

The thing with Johanson can be a boom or bust depending on Johanson's reaction. If he's going to take it and sink then you'll get a player that will want out. If you get a player whose going to put it out there on the ice, then you'll see him hit super stardom.

The problem with Torts has been he can't coach all personalities of players. Soft euroleague types just quit on him.

You'll see him pick up the defensemen's minutes if they play well, and bury guys that make mistakes.

My hunch is that he'll either turn Jack Johnson into something competent, or drive him out of town by the deadline.

Appreciate your input.

I hope that you are right about how he'll either develop or diminish the role of Jack Johnson.

 

[Mikos87]

I'm still waiting to hear the negative? Seriously the knock on this guy is he is likes to yell and expects guys to perform their jobs? Really? Soft players wilt under him? Ok.

I think this is excellent analysis. Nodding my head at every bullet point.

Appreciate your input.

I hope that you are right about how he'll either develop or diminish the role of Jack Johnson.

My pleasure guys, I'm a big fan of the guy, absolutely love his will to win. The last few years he's lived close to a buddy's restaurant in NY. Good guy, very emotional. Holds guys accountable, and has a short leash.

 

[Badger36]

I like it. The Jackets need someone to come in, shake things up and light a fire under peoples' backsides. He wont be afraid to bench players who arent playing hard and thats whats needed.

 

[HollaHaula]

Give Torts the Jack Adams