Due to the inconsistency that has plagued the New York Rangers this season, the fanbase seems to be split on the idea of letting Head Coach John Tortorella go. Since the day he took over for Tom Renney, Tortorella has turned the Rangers into contenders and in my honest opinion, has saved Glen Sather from getting fired. I believe that Torts has been the one making the key decisions when it came to signing and trading for certain players.
However, now when it seems like the coach finally got the line-up he has wanted all along, the Rangers are not playing to their full potential. You would think that with players such as Nash, Gaborik, Richards, Callahan, Hagelin, Stepan, Kredier, Miller, McDonough, Staal, Girardi, and Del Zotto, the coach would find a way to utilize his players to the best of their abilities. Instead, it seems like the team is out of sync at times and that they're holding their sticks tight.
Even if the belief that Tortorella is holding his players back from playing the way they know how to may ring true right now, I still believe that he is the man to get it done.
Join me after the jump for more.
This is John Tortorella's team. These are the players he wanted and the players he asked for Glen Sather to acquire. Lets all remember that this is a lockout shortened season. He is also known for his intense training camp that lasts about four weeks (including preseason games) during which the team becomes the best conditioned squad in the league. During this time they also learn the system and get accustomed to their hard nosed coach. Most importantly, this is the time they create their identity.
It has been a rocky and inconsistent season. The words dissapointment and confusion are fair assesments of this team but I think it has more to do with the lockout affecting the preparation for the season, the movement of players in the offseason who helped develop this teams work ethic in last years magical season, and the extra pressure that surrounded the team as soon as the puck dropped
Saying that Glen Sather was on the verge of being fired just a few seasons ago is fair speculation. With John Tortorella, Sather was able to redeem himself and let someone else guide this team. From the day Tortorella has come into the Rangers organization, everything was built under his guidance.
Tortorella wanted a player who was a difference maker and Sather gave him Gaborik. He wanted a gritty heart player, Sather acquired Brandon Prust. He wanted Richards, Sather got him Richards. He did not want Nash in expense of any major pieces when the Rangers were in first place and entering the Trade Deadline as contenders, and Sather stood pat. He then wanted Nash after he realized the team needed one more big player to, so Sather acquired Nash.
Bottom line, this is Tortorellas team. He has chosen the players who he believes can help this team and he has a manager who is willing to give him whatever he needs to succeed. If the Rangers give up on Tortorella now, they will just be taking a step back. I would go as far as saying that even if they miss the playoffs this year, Tortorella deserves a chance to run a full training camp and work on the teams identity over the full 82 game season.
No comments:
Post a Comment