Thank you AV and Coaching Staff

[True Blue]

I was an admitted skeptic. But the man has won me over. He never, even when the team was at their worst, wavered from what he believe and the system he wanted to play. And, like what I loved about Tom Renney, he never gets too high or too low and the team follows suit.

Agreed. Consider me won over as well. AV also reminds me of Torre when he led the Yankees to championships. Just a quiet confidence and never lets the outside world see any doubt. And that in turn, instills a confidence in his troops.

 

[True Blue]

Also, I echo the sentiments that John Tortorella deserves some credit for helping mold the players into what they are today.

Also true. And that is not meant to take away anything from AV. MCD, Boyle, Staal, Girardi, Steppan, all of them learned under Torts. Boyle said it perfectly in an interview when he credited Torts. He sais that under Torts he learned to what level he can take his body to. A real difference between being hurt and being injured.

AV has made a difference, that is plain to see. But the professionalism started with Renney and learning to sacrifice for one another came with Torts.

 

[Tawnos]

Honestly, this "Credit to Tortorella" thing has gotten old and overblown really fast. I liked Tortorella when he was here, though I understood why he was sent packing. All former coaches contribute to the story of the players they leave behind. Tortorella impacted his players? You don't say!

This is AV's team. It's up to the current coach to make a team play for each other. It's up to the current coach to instill discipline and demand work ethic. Without a coach preaching these things, they fall apart fast. I don't care how strong the coach before him was.

I said thank you to Tortorella a year ago. His part of this season's story is limited to him being fired.

 

[True Blue]

This is AV's team.

No one is arguing that. Not that I think, at least. And no one is taking credit away from what AV has accomplished. He did what Torts could not do. These are the facts and they are undisputable. However, there are players who are considered the be a part of the backbone of this team that give credit to Torts in having a hand into making them the players that they are. Those are also facts. AV gets all the credit for having this team in the Cup Finals. However, a cornerstone of what this team is belongs to Torts.

 

[Tawnos]

No one is arguing that. Not that I think, at least. And no one is taking credit away from what AV has accomplished. He did what Torts could not do. These are the facts and they are undisputable. However, there are players who are considered the be a part of the backbone of this team that give credit to Torts in having a hand into making them the players that they are. Those are also facts. AV gets all the credit for having this team in the Cup Finals. However, a cornerstone of what this team is belongs to Torts.

And Jerry York. And Dale Hunter. And Mike Eaves. And. And. And. And.

Like I said, coaches impact their players. This isn't news. It isn't even notable. If you asked Staal about Mike Foligno, he'd probably tell you the same exact thing.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Honestly, this "Credit to Tortorella" thing has gotten old and overblown really fast. I liked Tortorella when he was here, though I understood why he was sent packing. All former coaches contribute to the story of the players they leave behind. Tortorella impacted his players? You don't say!

This is AV's team. It's up to the current coach to make a team play for each other. It's up to the current coach to instill discipline and demand work ethic. Without a coach preaching these things, they fall apart fast. I don't care how strong the coach before him was.

I said thank you to Tortorella a year ago. His part of this season's story is limited to him being fired.

Ranger players are gracious, polite, and forgiving. They seek to take the high road when asked questions about a former coach. Ironic since Torts did not exactly embody those qualities.

 

[fredrikstad]

I want to also thank Tortorella who taught our kids well, then was good enough to be a dope and get himself fired to pave the way for AV's arrival. So thank you both!

Zuccarello is praising Paul Maurice for his success

 

[fredrikstad]

yeah, have to say this. alot of people going with the "**** you torts" line, but if not for that ECF run with Torts in 2012, these guys would not be here again in 2014.

Thanks again, Torts.

Sullivan on the other hand, he can take a big finger.

And what about Gernander who have prepared a lot off the kids for the big stages,no?

 

[PromNite]

Best coaching hire by this team in decades.

 

[TheTakedown]

And what about Gernander who have prepared a lot off the kids for the big stages,no?

Eh I cannot give gernander as much credit as torts... Wolfpack has been a pretty mediocre team... I guess defensively they are taught well on the pack, but I have no stats to back this up.

 

[True Blue]

And what about Gernander who have prepared a lot off the kids for the big stages,no?

And what about the pee-wee coach who got them started?

This thread is not about Torts or what he did. If you do not want to say that Torts had anything to do with how the players performed, that is up to you. My view is that AV did a great job and really implemented something that worked for this team. However, the core of this team was taught a thing or two about a thing or two by Torts. Just my view on it.

 

[Jersey Girl]

So what's your prediction? Will it take one loss to LA for everyone to get back on AV about gum chewing, not changing lines, not inspiring his team, and being out of touch, or has he at least earned a one game grace period?

 

[Ilovemymum]

So what's your prediction? Will it take one loss to LA for everyone to get back on AV about gum chewing, not changing lines, not inspiring his team, and being out of touch, or has he at least earned a one game grace period?

http://odds.bestbetting.com/ice-hoc...ngeles-kings-v-new-york-rangers/match-result/

I'm pretty confident that Rangers will win game 1, and at least get home advantage after two games in LA. Kings is a machine, but 21 games must start to wear? Meeting a faster and relatively well rested NYR that seem to like it on the road is too much. Question is if they are able to come back after trailing the series, as they have done pretty well so far.

 

[Phil McKraken]

I don't know if anyone has noticed this: In Vigneault's first year in NY the Rangers reached the SCF for the first time in 20 years, and in Tortorella's first year in Vancouver the Canucks missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

What a huge PR victory for AV and what a shame for Tortorella. Granted, the Rangers happen to have better player material than before and the Canucks have worse, but still.

 

[True Blue]

I'm pretty confident that Rangers will win game 1, and at least get home advantage after two games in LA. Kings is a machine, but 21 games must start to wear?

The Rangers have played 20.

 

[aufheben]

The Rangers have played 20.

Yeah but they controlled the play against Montreal, and it wasn't a physically exhausting series. Plus the extra time off, the Rangers should be fresh.

 

[True Blue]

Yeah but they controlled the play against Montreal, and it wasn't a physically exhausting series. Plus the extra time off, the Rangers should be fresh.

Nothing I hope for more. TO me, the key is to get a split in LA. And Game 1 is the game to do it.

 

[aufheben]

Nothing I hope for more. TO me, the key is to get a split in LA. And Game 1 is the game to do it.

Yep. They need to come out flying. AND NO STUPID PENALTIES RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

Also, AV has done a tremendous job with zone starts and ice time distribution. No one is getting overworked.

 

[Levitate]

Nothing I hope for more. TO me, the key is to get a split in LA. And Game 1 is the game to do it.

Yup, getting at least a split on the road is huge, going back home down 0-2 is not good news.

I don't know if LA is going to be outright tired or anything but you still hope the extra days of rest mentally and physically helps out the Rangers and they'll be sharper

 

[Jersey Girl]

Yeah but they controlled the play against Montreal, and it wasn't a physically exhausting series. Plus the extra time off, the Rangers should be fresh.

Tell that to Derek Stepan...and JT Miller...and Derick Brassard.

I do agree with your overall point, however, and I think the six days between games could be a huge factor - potentially negative at the beginning of game one as we regain our sea legs, but perhaps we can find a second gear the Kings do not have in their engine.

 

[aufheben]

I don't know if Stepan's broken jaw would factor into fatigue. Our fastest and most physically imposing player in Kreider has only played 10 games in the last couple months, he needs to go out and wreak havoc.

 

[Ilovemymum]

The Rangers have played 20.

Good point That last one makes a difference though.

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

This thread proves anything this board says in october and november should be automatically ignored

 

[Beacon]

This thread proves anything this board says in october and november should be automatically ignored

I started a thread in October declaring the Rangers to be legitimate Cup contenders. :p

 

[Beacon]

One fewer game may not seem like a lot, but 6 days rest vs. 3 days is huge. Furthermore, we played only 6 games in the 22 days between the end of round 2 and the beginning of round 4. We also faced two soft teams: the Pens and Monty.

We should be very fresh.

LA, on the other hand, played 10 games in the last 23 days. 6 vs. 10 is a big difference.

LA also didn't have the time to rest between the Conference Finals and the Final. They went from beating Chi to starting to prepare for the Rangers. Meanwhile, we had a few light days.