Torts, "I'm not backing off."

At first, when I read this, I didn't think it would be an issue. That being said, Torts reiterated again today that he's not backing off. Don't stand for the national anthem and you won't play for team USA.

“There is no chance an anthem and a flag should come into any type of situation where you are trying to make a point,” Tortorella told Aaron Portzline Wednesday. “It’s probably the most disrespectful thing you can do as a U.S. citizen is to bring that in because that’s our symbol. (I’m) all for express yourself. That’s what is so great. Everybody does. But no chance when it comes to the flag an anthem. No chance.”

“I have no problem (with it),'" Seth Jones told the Columbus Dispatch. "You’re not going to see anything from any of us with Torts, so I have no problem with that.”

While many fans and media aren't a fan of the firey coach from the Columbus Blue Jackets, no one can accuse him of being wishy washy. He's sticking to his guns.

“Understand: I’m not criticizing anybody for stepping up and putting their thoughts out there about things. I’m the furthest thing away from being anything political,” Tortorella told SportsNet.

“This is your anthem. This is your flag. That shouldn’t come into play for a second. Not what these people do.”

Check out what former UMD Bulldog forward J.T. Brown tweeted on the matter.

"I'm not backing off."

John Tortorella reiterates that he'd bench players who don't stand for the national anthem: https://t.co/Uh6N29jPEn

— ESPN (@espn) September 7, 2016

I interviewed Team USA coach John Tortorella today. His message remains the same. You... https://t.co/FuSXz1gv9W pic.twitter.com/9mSscIdQY5

— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) September 7, 2016

Wouldn't benching a black man for taking a stance only further prove Kap's point of oppression? But hey 🐸☕️ https://t.co/p6aUjXYlq4

— Jt brownov (@JTBrown23) September 7, 2016

Torts, Stand For Anthem or Don't Play

Today, team USA World Cup of hockey head coach John Tortorella was asked what would happen if one of his players took up Colin Kaepernick's cause and failed to stand for the National Anthem. Some will like his response, won't.

“If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game,” Tortorella said.

So, if the USA players don't stand for the national anthem they will sit.

Ex-@NYRangers coach Torts warns Team USA: Stand for anthem or sit out World Cup of Hockey https://t.co/FBc1HxuQGM pic.twitter.com/oLKUx6mlgS

— NY Daily News Sports (@NYDNSports) September 6, 2016

I know I'm the minority on this but I dislike Torts appearing to dismiss the validity of the protest here pic.twitter.com/xarNiNE5TL

— Christian LaFontaine (@LaFontaine_CD) September 6, 2016

makes sense torts is wrong on this. he is wrong on everything else and he's one of those "i don't say 'battle' because of the troops" dorks.

— septemberl (@twolinepass) September 6, 2016

Torts Wants Columbus to Play Tough

I thought this was an interesting post from Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. This would explain why the Blue Jackets spend a lot of time in the penalty box.

The Blue Jackets are the most-penalized team in the NHL and the team with the most major penalties for fighting.

But those are crude ways to measure their physical nature.

“We talk every game, that if somebody’s in trouble, someone gets in there,” coach John Tortorella said. “If someone’s on our goalie, someone gets in. Everybody gets in the blue (paint) to protect our goaltender. That’s the mindset we’re trying to build here.

“But are we over the top? Are we cheap? Are we dirty? Absolutely not. Do we want to injure people? Hurt people? Absolutely not.”

There will be no apologies forthcoming for the hard-nosed style, even as recent opponents have taken exception.

This can be entertaining hockey for the fans, but it can tax a team's penalty kill.

(Video) John Tortorella being called "Mike" by reporter

John Tortorella being called Mike by a reporter... Love him or hate him, he's colorful.

Vancouver Cancuks So true

Lol pic.twitter.com/06RdDhCT37
— Brendan Shanahan (@NHLSafetyShan) April 5, 2014

This tweet is funny, but indicative of the Vancouver Canucks fans.

Tortorella and Hartley have a history

Tortorella, Dubinsky, Avery, Boyle, Voros (Photo credit: dbostrom)

Here's a good read that kind of puts the John Tortorella and Bob Hartley incident into perspective. Apparently, the two guys have a history going back to the AHL. I thought I would share it with you.

Kevin Oklobzija, Democrat and Chronicle --- "They know how to push each other's buttons pretty well," Nichol said this morning.

It has been 18 1/2 years since the first Tortorella/Hartley encounter and time surely hasn't made the hearts grow fonder. Tortorella does, however, remain steadfast in his commitment to his team.

So why didn't Tortorella defuse the situation against the Canucks by putting out a skill line? Why exacerbate the matter by choosing to deploy your set of nuclear weapons against the Hartley starters? Is someone really going to jump the Sedin twins?

"Is someone going to jump Phil Kessel," Nichol countered. "John Scott did (in the Sabres-Maple Leafs preseason game)."

"Players respect that he (Tortorella) has their back," Nichol said. "As a player, you rally around that. It's been his M.O. for a long time: us against the world. The team is an inner circle and if anyone outside that inner circle tries to interfere, he erupts."

The Hartley M.O. hasn't changed much either: He loves his tough-guys and wants his team to be nasty and abrasive.

"Hartley always, always, always, always wanted his team to be tougher than they really were," said Scott Metcalfe, the Amerks Hall of Famer who played a key role with Nichol and Dan Frawley on that 1996 Calder Cup team.

Tortorella never backs down from a challenge. He doesn't think his team ever should, either.

Vancouver Canucks: head coach John Tortorella suspended 15 days

The NHL has thrown the book at Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella. The interesting part is that Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley has been fined $25,000.00 by the NHL. I guess you could say that the head coaches in the NHL are on notice. 

NEW YORK -– Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella has been suspended for 15 days, without pay, for his actions during the first intermission of NHL Game No. 735 in Vancouver on Saturday, Jan. 18, the National Hockey League announced Monday.

"Mr. Tortorella's actions in attempting to enter the Calgary Flames locker room after the first period were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the League," said NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. "Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game."

Mr. Tortorella's suspension is effective retroactive to January 19 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 2. He will miss six games. He is not permitted to have any interaction with his club prior to, during or after games.

(Video) John Tortorella on Canucks/Flames line brawl post game presser

Well, Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella will have an in person hearing for attempting to confront the  Calgary Flames head coach and for the scrum that erupted in the hall afterwards. You have to think that Torts will be getting a vacation and a hefty fine.

John Tortorella will have an in-person hearing tomorrow in New York. Substantial fine and suspension both possible. #TSN
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 19, 2014

Canucks vs. Kings: Dale Weise slew foots Drew Doughty

The big question now is will there be a Shannaban for for Dale Weise's slew foot on Kings defenseman Drew Doughty? There was no penalty called on the play. Through two periods of play there was over 100-minutes in penalties.

All bets are off now gang after the slew foot by Weise on Doughty! The inmates are going to run the prison with the guards on leave!
— Kerry Fraser (@kfraserthecall) January 14, 2014

John Tortorella not a fan of the shootout

Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella is not a fan of the shootout. Torts opined: "That gimmick should be out of the league." It's fun watch Torts snap at the media. The guys is a bit rough, but he speaks his mind.

John Tortorella explains his decision to sit Brad Richards

Classic John Tortorella, the guy is a gem. Earlier in the game, Torts was caught on audio cussing out a lines man and dropping the F-bomb. In the course of one night, Torts cussed out the on-ice officials and told the writers to kiss his ass and won a hockey, so he keeps his job for at least another day... It pretty much sounds like he's going to get fired if the Rangers don't make it out of the second round, if you believe the scuttlebutt that you read on the internet. Someone over on the Hockey Writers suggested that Tors coach the Maine Black Bears. Now I would love to see that.

More Torts: "I need to make decisions about what I feel is right for our team to win tonight's game, & that's why I made that decision"
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 24, 2013

Torts: "By no means is this a situation where I take him out and I'm blaming him...Brad Richards is a helluva hockey player"
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 24, 2013

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• John Tortorella speaks after the Rangers Game 2 loss to the Bruins (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Hilarious tweet from a Rangers fan at Tort's expense

Torts and his potential final goodbye w/ cameo from the $6M scratched man (@pezdoy @justindoy) twitter.com/MikeDarnay/sta…
— Mike Darnay (@MikeDarnay) May 24, 2013

This is a funny picture that was on twitter. It would be funny if Torts did this during his post game press conference.

John Tortorella speaks after the Rangers Game 2 loss to the Bruins

Video courtesy of our friends at Bruins Daily, stop by and visit their blog, you won't be disappointed. This is one of the longer press conferences you will probably see from New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella. This post game presser lasted a grand total of 02:14, that's pretty impressive if you ask me.

Zach Parise hit on Michael Del Zotto

This is the hit by New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise on New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto that the Rangers head coach John Tortorella took issue with - the video is not very good and the hit in question would be the hit in the left corner at the 7-8 second mark of the video.

It would appear from all of the talk between game three and four, that this series is beginning to heat up and get even more nastier, if that is even possible, the two teams started a game off back in March 19th, 2012 by dropping the gloves on the opening face off and having an old fashion Donny Brook.

Ranger fans will be happy to know that the slow footed Ranger defenseman Stu Bickel will be in for Brandon Prust who is sitting out the game on suspension tonight.

My final question is: does the Rangers head coach John Tortorella have a case? Was the hit by  Parise's on Del Zotto in the corner a dirty that hit? Is this hit worthy of Parise sitting out a one game  suspension?

Larry Brooks, New York Post --- “You can sense the hatred building from the last game, especially with some of the big hits,” Michael Del Zotto told The Post after coming off the ice from yesterday’s optional skate at the Garden. “It feels like there’s something building.”

There were three incidents involving hits to the head in Saturday’s Game 3, but only one gained notice enough to be reviewed by the NHL after it had been replayed multiple times on the NBC telecast of the Rangers’ 3-0 victory. That was Prust’s elbow.

That was followed by Saturday’s post-game press conference in which Devils coach Pete DeBoer matter-of-factly labeled the incident, “Headhunting, plain and simple.”

What was plain and simple is the unpenalized Prust elbow at 2:38 of the second period came between the unpenalized Dainius Zubrus right elbow to Anton Stralman’s face that drew blood at 8:00 of the first period and the unpenalized leap from behind by Zach Parise onto Michael Del Zotto’s head when the Blueshirts defenseman was in pursuit of the puck with 6:22 remaining in the third period.

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• After a tepid start, now we get bad blood on ice

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• Rangers' Tortorella stands behind Prust, questions Devils' hits

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• Rangers' Prust gets 1-game ban for elbowing

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• Rangers' Prust gets 1-game ban for elbowing

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Tortorella Responds To “Headhunter” Charge From DeBoer

John Tortorella (Photo credit: Robert Kowal)

It looks like the smug one; New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella can actually say more than 36 words during a press conference, albeit this was a pregame press conference. This is what Torts had to say about the Prust hit as well as what he thought about the New Jersey Devils. There seems to be no love lost between these two teams.

Dave Lozo, NHL.com --- On Sunday, Rangers coach John Tortorella responded to that comment by defending Prust and accusing the Devils of embellishing calls and setting illegal picks during their power plays.

"He's probably one of the most honest players," Tortorella said, before launching into a a big chunk of gamesmanship. "I look at (Dainius Zubrus') elbow to (Anton) Stralman. I look at (Zach) Parise launching himself at (Michael) Del Zotto. Maybe if our players stay down on the ice, we'll get something. We tell our players don't stay down on the ice, get up.

"The picking on the power play. If we want to start discussing officials with the media, I've got a long list here. That's a set play by Jersey -- picking so we can't get to (Ilya) Kovalchuk to block his shot. There's some gamesmanship right there, huh?"

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• John Tortorella Rips Devils: Rangers Coach Defends Brandon Prust, Takes Shot At New Jersey (VIDEO)

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• Tortorella takes shots at Devils, defends Prust

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• Tortorella takes shots at Devils, defends Prust

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J.P. Parise back tracks on comments

Zach Parise (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am one of those fans that is holding out hope that former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise ends up signing a free agent contract with the Minnesota Wild in the off season and finishes his hockey career in the "State of hockey."

After reading after reading J.P. Parise's comments the other day I got to thinking that the Rangers could be a destination for much sought after free agent player. 

Denis Gorman, New Jersey --- J.P. Parise was quoted in Friday’s edition of Newsday as saying, Zach “likes [John Tortorella] a lot,” and that his son “would fit in right there” with the Rangers. Zach Parise was a member of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men’s hockey team, which Tortorella was an assistant coach on. Ryan Callahan was also a member of that team.

J.P. Parise went on to clarify his comments  he made about the Rangers being a possible team that might seek Parise's services.

Tom Gulitti, Fire and Ice --- “I have to say I was extremely disappointed in how my comments were portrayed in today’s newspaper article,” J.P. Parise said. “I would never speak for Zach under any circumstance. He has not talked to me about anything other than the playoffs and we have not discussed anything but the playoffs and that is 100 percent where his focus is right now and I have absolutely no intentions to distract and get things away from his focus right now.”

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• Zach Parise is a man of no words following Game 3

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Torts game two press conference

I think the best job in the NHL would be transcribing New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella's brief post game press conferences - there are very few words spoken by the Rangers head coach - especially when the New York Rangers lose the game. I have to admit that I thought the short post game press conferences were funny at first but I would actually like to hear what he has to say. Why didn't Gabby play in the third period.

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Don't be that guy - Torts unloads on reporter for having cell phone on

The ongoing joke during the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been the Rangers head coach John Tortorella and how short his press conferences have been. As a person that been to a few post-game press conferences – sometimes the coaches just don’t want to talk to the media nor are they in any mood to answer questions from the media jackals.

Don’t be that guy – you also don’t want to be the person that has forgotten to turn off his cell phone. You might do it once but you probably won’t ever do it again.

Dave Stubbs, National Post --- “Typical New York,” veteran New York journalist Stan Fischler said Sunday with a laugh.

Next to this lunacy, Tortorella is just a cloudburst whose 15-second, syllable-short news conferences add to this season’s delicious drama on Broadway.

Torts’s act is well known in hockey, fittingly showbiz in the world’s headquarters of the theatre as his team prepares to face the New Jersey Devils Monday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.

The coach’s shtick probably is carefully crafted to take heat off his team, give the opponent as little information as possible and keep the media off balance. It quickly wears thin with many and is viewed as disrespectful not just of reporters, but of the many great communicative coaches who have gone before him.

Predictably, Torts’s players will tell you they respect their leader who will go to the wall for them. And his results —the Rangers now eight victories from a Stanley Cup championship — speak for themselves.

I have to give Torts credit, he is very entertaining and a lot of fun to watch in the post game press conferences that they show on NBCSN and a lot of what he says can’t be said on TV without being bleeped out, but It makes for good theater. I also think it might be a tactic and maybe his antics do take the heat off of his team when they lose.

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• Some Poor Bastard's Cell Phone Went Off During John Tortorella's Press Conference, And Torts Was Not Happy [Video]
• Torts used exactly 31 words to answer questions today
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• Torts: Bring back red line

Leave the game alone – Part Deux

There seems to be a lot of discussion on what would open up the game of hockey. Some want to get rid of shot blocking; others want to limit the number of players that can line up in front of their goal. Some have suggested that the size of the goalie equipment is making goal scoring hard. Now Rangers head coach John Tortorella has chimed in, Torts would like to see the return of the “red line.” I think that is a horrible idea and would really slow down the game of hockey.

Mark Everson and Brett Cyrgalis --- “To me, I think they need to put the red line back in,” Tortorella said yesterday as his team prepares for Game 1 of its Eastern Conference final matchup against the Devils tonight at Madison Square Garden.

“Look at the puck possession teams,” Tortorella said, “they’re out.”

Coming out of the lockout in 2005, the NHL made it legal to make a two-line pass, meaning coming from out of one’s zone, behind the blue line, a pass could be made to a player beyond the center-ice line, the so-called red line. It was a pass that used to be illegal, immediately blowing the play dead.

The new rule was designed to open up the game, and if it did for a while, the way teams have adapted is by playing tighter in their own zone.

“Because it’s a game of ping-pong,” Tortorella said. “The game is a long pass, forecheck, defend. Another long pass, forecheck, defend.”

With a history of fines for criticizing the league, Tortorella then looked at the NHL representative in the room and added, “I better just leave it at that.”

I like the way the NHL is currently run, albeit the officiating would be a little more consistent during the playoffs but the NHL is comprised of the best players in the game of hockey and you’re not always going to have a 8-7 game, some games are going to be 2-1, 1-0, 0-0… I have no idea what bringing back the red line is going to do but slow the game down more and give us more unnecessary whistles and stoppages. Please leave the game of hockey alone.

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Derek Stepan hits Chris Neil

This was from yesterday's Rangers and Senators game. Very nice check by the former Wisconsin Badger and Rangers forward Derek Stepan on the Senators forward and tough guy Chris Neil. It's a text book body check.

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