His boy is being phased out more and more every game. What do you want them to ask him? He knows he stinks or else he'd be getting more ice time
- Slimtj100

Could start with why he getsany pp time at all and mist of the time on the first unit.

I don't get the theory Torts tries to draw the attention off the players in postseason. Guy is a jerk all the time just more people paying attention in playoffs.
- Chris Erwin

Until I hear a player say he's a jerk, aside from Avery who just also said Tortorella was great for him by the way, I believe his players respect him and understand why he says the things he does. Think back to 1994 for a minute and Keenan was similar. It took Messier to go to him and have a heart-to-heart before game five I believe of the ECF to get him to loosen up and Keenan was worse than Torts. That ended well.

I think Torts needs to make some changes; particularly to the PP but it doesn't matter one bit how we might feel about him. It only matters how the players feel about him and I still think they respect him.

No one ever talks about the positive things he does for or says to the players. How many times have we seen him go up to a young player and pat him on the back on the bench and say something positive? That in-game interview where he was talking about Callahan? No one talks about those things that probably happen hundreds of times throughout the season. They would just rather focus on the times that fans or media think he is being a douche. You want to be fair you have to admit the good with the bad.

Could start with why he getsany pp time at all and mist of the time on the first unit.
- Chris Erwin

I've said it too that he doesn't deserve to be on that 1st unit but I can understand why Torts keeps going back there. Richards has performed for Torts before in these situations and Torts is confident he can again. Maybe Torts will be proven wrong but what if he is proven right? What happens if out of no where Richie gets it going again? Torts is confident Richie will based on what Richards has done in the past both for Torts coached teams and others and that is understandable. The hardest thing for any coach to do is to sit a player who has won that coach many games because he just isn't performing up to snuff. He's showing loyalty which I consider a good trait yet he gets hammered for it. I'm not saying I agree with his decision but I can understand the rationale for it.

Also, I thought Richards looked much better on the PP yesterday. He was composed and decisive with the puck and made some plays. Unfortunately nothing ended up in the back of the net. But maybe he gets going and the PP does too as a result. I sure hope it does.

Until I hear a player say he's a jerk, aside from Avery who just also said Tortorella was great for him by the way, I believe his players respect him and understand why he says the things he does. Think back to 1994 for a minute and Keenan was similar. It took Messier to go to him and have a heart-to-heart before game five I believe of the ECF to get him to loosen up and Keenan was worse than Torts. That ended well.

I think Torts needs to make some changes; particularly to the PP but it doesn't matter one bit how we might feel about him. It only matters how the players feel about him and I still think they respect him.

No one ever talks about the positive things he does for or says to the players. How many times have we seen him go up to a young player and pat him on the back on the bench and say something positive? That in-game interview where he was talking about Callahan? No one talks about those things that probably happen hundreds of times throughout the season. They would just rather focus on the times that fans or media think he is being a douche. You want to be fair you have to admit the good with the bad.
- gkmkiller

to much bad IMO and I loved Keenan and Herb Broojs and heard they both were not sweethearts. The two big differences they were innovators and hockey IQ off the charts. But more importantly it's a different world today. They didn't have to dealmwith blogs, social media and everything they said or did wasn't retweeted a gazzilion times. Brooks I think infered that Barry Beck spent to much tine in bath houses. It wasn't on YouTube 10 minutes later and tweeted to his friends and family.

Agreed and so far that is the difference. The Rangers aren't taking advantage of Bruins' breakdowns and the Bruins are capitalizing on just about every Ranger mistake.
- MidnightMarauder

Yes that is how game 2 went but I don't see that as a sustainable
Approach; a good team can't expect to play so-so and win a lot -
That shyte can't last.

I've said it too that he doesn't deserve to be on that 1st unit but I can understand why Torts keeps going back there. Richards has performed for Torts before in these situations and Torts is confident he can again. Maybe Torts will be proven wrong but what if he is proven right? What happens if out of no where Richie gets it going again? Torts is confident Richie will based on what Richards has done in the past both for Torts coached teams and others and that is understandable. The hardest thing for any coach to do is to sit a player who has won that coach many games because he just isn't performing up to snuff. He's showing loyalty which I consider a good trait yet he gets hammered for it. I'm not saying I agree with his decision but I can understand the rationale for it.

Also, I thought Richards looked much better on the PP yesterday. He was composed and decisive with the puck and made some plays. Unfortunately nothing ended up in the back of the net. But maybe he gets going and the PP does too as a result. I sure hope it does.
- gkmkiller

So if he scores a big goal and wins a big game does that erase the games he might have lost. He did have a better game yesterday but results were same. At this point he has had his chance to work out of it. I get loyalty but not at the cost of the team. So he's loyal to Sullivan and Richards at the expense of results that cost the team games?

to much bad IMO and I loved Keenan and Herb Broojs and heard they both were not sweethearts. The two big differences they were innovators and hockey IQ off the charts. But more importantly it's a different world today. They didn't have to dealmwith blogs, social media and everything they said or did wasn't retweeted a gazzilion times. Brooks I think infered that Barry Beck spent to much tine in bath houses. It wasn't on YouTube 10 minutes later and tweeted to his friends and family.
- Chris Erwin

Your on those blogs bad mouthing everything aren't you? Hello pot, meet kettle

Your on those blogs bad mouthing everything aren't you? Hello pot, meet kettle
- Slimtj100

Not everything just him. And I highly doubt he reads blog. And if he did he doesn't work for e wouldn't or shouldn't give a poop.

Bottom line is they're wasting time and the question is how long do they go on this path before they stop wasting it?

I wanted to break the TV after the Lucic goal,"that's what you get when you poke the bear"....what ? Where was Lucic involved before taping home an easy open net? Sounded like Pierre was itching to use that one
- cranford93

Play by play and commentator guys LOVE to make their storyline
Fit the scoreboard rather than the actual flow of the game -annoying.

Bottom line is they're wasting time and the question is how long do they go on this path before they stop wasting it?
- cranford93

More importantly they are wasting core players primes. Henrik isn't getting younger, Girardi and Callahan style of pay and amount of ice time could shorten their careers.

Not everything just him. And I highly doubt he reads blog. And if he did he doesn't work for e wouldn't or shouldn't give a poop.
- Chris Erwin

You hit on something tho, coaches are under a microscope more and more now with everything out there. Everything they do everything they say is disected like never before.

You hit on something tho, coaches are under a microscope more and more now with everything out there. Everything they do everything they say is disected like never before.
- Slimtj100

Thank you

Until I hear a player say he's a jerk, aside from Avery who just also said Tortorella was great for him by the way, I believe his players respect him and understand why he says the things he does. Think back to 1994 for a minute and Keenan was similar. It took Messier to go to him and have a heart-to-heart before game five I believe of the ECF to get him to loosen up and Keenan was worse than Torts. That ended well.

I think Torts needs to make some changes; particularly to the PP but it doesn't matter one bit how we might feel about him. It only matters how the players feel about him and I still think they respect him.

No one ever talks about the positive things he does for or says to the players. How many times have we seen him go up to a young player and pat him on the back on the bench and say something positive? That in-game interview where he was talking about Callahan? No one talks about those things that probably happen hundreds of times throughout the season. They would just rather focus on the times that fans or media think he is being a douche. You want to be fair you have to admit the good with the bad.
- gkmkiller

I don't disagree with you, I think the players still respect Torts, but it's got to be very difficult to try to win every game 1-0. The Rangers strive to be a shot-blocking machine, yet they have no transition game and their power play is a joke. I just think at some point they have to take chances and look for ways to CREATE offense. I just don't think Torts is the guy to do it.

That said, I hope they win and prove me wrong.

So if he scores a big goal and wins a big game does that erase the games he might have lost. He did have a better game yesterday but results were same. At this point he has had his chance to work out of it. I get loyalty but not at the cost of the team. So he's loyal to Sullivan and Richards at the expense of results that cost the team games?
- Chris Erwin

I'm saying it isn't an easy decision to bench a player who has helped a coach win a lot of games. The coach will give that player as much rope as possible. I've been that coach in other sports and it can become a no-win situation real quick. You play him and he doesn't perform and you look bad. You sit him then the organization is getting criticized for wasting money and/or the coach is catching flak for not relying on his "go to guys." The only way Torts can win is with the club succeeding and scoring goals on the PP. Again, I'm not saying I agree with Torts but I have no doubt he is making the decision he believes is the best for the hockey team and I can understand why he believes Richards is going to snap out of it even if I am not so sure. This guy has delivered many times in the spotlight and this failure is pretty much a first for Richards.

So no one ever asked him about his boy Richards?
- Chris Erwin

If I amnot mistaking and could be wrong, Tortorella did second guess why some of his older players didn't either play during the lockout or condition themselves properly. The emphasis was on the "older". It wasn't by name but Richards is the oldest on the team. Who else could he be talking about? Torts shouldn't have used the word "stinks" I will be the first to admit that and its regretable but lets not dismiss what he also said about Hagelin. I wish he didn't say it the way he did, but Hagelin was called dumb ealier and he went on to have a pretty good season. I think he knows his players and he knows which ones he can call out in public and which ones he won't.

Until I hear a player say he's a jerk, aside from Avery who just also said Tortorella was great for him by the way, I believe his players respect him and understand why he says the things he does. Think back to 1994 for a minute and Keenan was similar. It took Messier to go to him and have a heart-to-heart before game five I believe of the ECF to get him to loosen up and Keenan was worse than Torts. That ended well.

I think Torts needs to make some changes; particularly to the PP but it doesn't matter one bit how we might feel about him. It only matters how the players feel about him and I still think they respect him.

No one ever talks about the positive things he does for or says to the players. How many times have we seen him go up to a young player and pat him on the back on the bench and say something positive? That in-game interview where he was talking about Callahan? No one talks about those things that probably happen hundreds of times throughout the season. They would just rather focus on the times that fans or media think he is being a douche. You want to be fair you have to admit the good with the bad.
- gkmkiller

This is a good point. From everything that I have read the players feel like they are treated fairly. If it comes out after the season that the guys are drinking beer and playing cards in between periods I'll buy a coachingh change sooner than later, until that comes he is the coach.

Thank you
- Chris Erwin

I try

But seriously, coaches now have to explain every detail of practice of in game decisions of why the did this what they did that. I think it's kind of unfair to be honest. If I was a coach /manager I'd flip my lid too at these guys. Like the whole terry Collins thing with valdespin, I guarentee he wanted that stay in the clubhouse. But he gets pestered with questions and says the wrong thing and next thing you know he's 5 minutes from being fired

It's bs

More importantly they are wasting core players primes. Henrik isn't getting younger, Girardi and Callahan style of pay and amount of ice time could shorten their careers.
- Chris Erwin

Did it shorten Chelios'?

If I amnot mistaking and could be wrong, Tortorella did second guess why some of his older players didn't either play during the lockout or condition themselves properly. The emphasis was on the "older". It wasn't by name but Richards is the oldest on the team. Who else could he be talking about? Torts shouldn't have used the word "stinks" I will be the first to admit that and its regretable but lets not dismiss what he also said about Hagelin. I wish he didn't say it the way he did, but Hagelin was called dumb ealier and he went on to have a pretty good season. I think he knows his players and he knows which ones he can call out in public and which ones he won't.
- Blueshirts4ever

Some if the older players isn't as specific. And he did say good things about Hags. That's called sandwiching u surround a insult with a compliment. Heard it works well with second graders think they teach it in elementary education courses. Like telling the fat chick she has a good personality.

I try

But seriously, coaches now have to explain every detail of practice of in game decisions of why the did this what they did that. I think it's kind of unfair to be honest. If I was a coach /manager I'd flip my lid too at these guys. Like the whole terry Collins thing with valdespin, I guarentee he wanted that stay in the clubhouse. But he gets pestered with questions and says the wrong thing and next thing you know he's 5 minutes from being fired

It's bs
- Slimtj100

He doesn't like that part of the job. Parcels hated it too and most coaches hate it. I'd hate the media observing my practices everyday. He has done a better job of answering questions, sometimes a little too honestly as we saw the other day.

Thank you
- Chris Erwin

I try

But seriously, coaches now have to explain every detail of practice of in game decisions of why the did this what they did that. I think it's kind of unfair to be honest. If I was a coach /manager I'd flip my lid too at these guys. Like the whole terry Collins thing with valdespin, I guarentee he wanted that stay in the clubhouse. But he gets pestered with questions and says the wrong thing and next thing you know he's 5 minutes from being fired

It's bs

I try

But seriously, coaches now have to explain every detail of practice of in game decisions of why the did this what they did that. I think it's kind of unfair to be honest. If I was a coach /manager I'd flip my lid too at these guys. Like the whole terry Collins thing with valdespin, I guarentee he wanted that stay in the clubhouse. But he gets pestered with questions and says the wrong thing and next thing you know he's 5 minutes from being fired

It's bs
- Slimtj100

It is but it's the society we live in. Mickey Mantle close to being sainted but if he was around today not sure that would be case. JFK makes Bill Clinton look like a choir boy but we're in a different time and have to deal ad adjust.

definitely starting to visit the Brad Richards amnesty talk.

I'd love a win tomorrow to keep our minds from getting to the offseason though, but it's getting harder and harder not to think about it
- jimbro83

My dumb@ss thought he would be good in the playoffs.

I have taken sh!ts that looked better than Brad Richards has this entire season.

Did it shorten Chelios'?
- Blueshirts4ever

Nope got me there. But I'm sure some players that hit everything in site, play half the game and dive in front of shots have had their careers shortened.