Torts: I'll do it my way

Lightning coach John Tortorella always has said he doesn't coach to please the team's brass, and he reiterated that thought after today's morning skate. Asked if he believed his personalty lessens his job security with new ownership coming in, Torts said, "Me? No, why? What does my personality have to do with job security?

But after a moment to think about it, Torts added, "There is a lot of daggers being thrown around, no question as (Leafs coach Paul Maurice) is going through it, and all coaches do. That's part of the business. Listen, I'm not going to do my job to please people. My job is to do the job the correct way, and I'm going to stay with the way I feel it's supposed to be done.

"And people above, (if) they don't like it, get me the hell out because I'm not going to change as far as what I think is best for the hockey team. It is never been, will be a popularity contest for me. I work for the team to push the players, to make the team the best they possibly can. If people don't like how I'm doing it, or if I'm doing it, they can move me on.''

Nice.

Andre Roy and wife, Karine, had their second daughter, Eloise, at 4:05 p.m. Thursday. Eloise was 6 pounds, 11 ounces and 19.5 inches. Roy said everyone is healthy and doing fine. He said he was in the delivery room, trying to take pictures while helping with the towels and a water bottle and giving encouragement

"A great day,'' Roy said.

The couple's other daughter is Maelie, 2.

Other stuff from the morning skate: Tortorella said he wants to see the Lightning re-sign center Chris Gratton, whose hip surgery next week likely will end his season. ... Vinny Lecavalier reiterated he would be interested in signing a long-term contract with the Lightning. ... Goalie Mike Smith said today's game with the Maple Leafs should be easier with fewer emotions churning from Tuesday's trade. ...  He said the toughest part of the trade was leaving goalie Marty Turco and his family, with whom he had gotten so close. "But he's glad I'm getting this opportunity,'' Smith said. ... Mike Lundin's ice time has plummeted since the return of Dan Boyle. "It's a little frustrating because you want to play,'' he said. "But you realize it's probably better for the team if those other guys are getting more minutes.'' ... Defenseman Filip Kuba (right knee) is out again, so Alex Picard gets a chance to build on Wednesday's strong effort. ... Lecavalier on his slump that has produced four goals in 21 games: "It's been a struggle. It's just tough to produce right now. ... Now it's bringing the puck more to the net and maybe playing better with Marty (St. Louis). Talking more on the ice, getting aggressive on the puck. Being hungry for the puck and bringing it to the net.'' Asked if the trade deadline distractions and falling out of the playoff race has hurt his focus, he said, "I don't want to use excuses. ... There have been some distractions, but you have to battle through them.''    

Comments

[Jim-NJ]

BTW, Richards slapped us all in the face with that "fight"(if you can call it that). When did he EVER stand up for himself or anyone on the Bolts??? He was damn Lady byng for crying out loud! And look at Lehitonen and Hagman! These guys aren't big stars! Hagman is decent but he's not vinny or marty! All they did was run into a goalie on his off-night.

When we put Richards with vinny, Marty, Boyle on the PP, I didn't see us exactly surging. We gave him his chances and he just cried and whined the whole time. for 8M, you need to MAKE the players around you better, not the otherway around.

Good riddance, he didn't wanna be here and now he got his cake and he's eating it too. And we got yet another backup goalie to take time from Ramo.

[Jim-NJ]

DC-why don't put the old headline back up there? You know where it said "TORTS: FIRE ME" before you changed it to "I'LL DO IT MY WAY"

[Mike13]

Congrats to Roy on his new little bundle of joy! Will he be in the lineup, or is he going to hang with his wife?

Looking forward to seeing Smith's 2nd game.

Hoping that Jokinen is able to build upon the little bit of chemistry he showed with Vinny and Marty.

Can't wait to see Halpern flyin' around again, playing like he's still on a playoff bound team...

[Mike13]

Oh, forgot:

Torts should continue to do it his way, but he should back off a little & reduce the ice time of the stars a little bit. Anyone notice that Brad only played 19 minutes last night? Ottawa is over-playing Heatly and Alfie too and look at their recent results.

Lundin's ice time should plummet. He should not have been playing as many minutes as he was. At the same time, playing Boyle for 30 minutes is ridiculous.

[bear]

File this under news you never get on this site.

New likely 47% interest partner in the Koules takeover is a former Panther player/land developer.

Scroll down to story.

http://www.globesports.com/hockey

[Herb]

Congrats to Roy Torts you can go to H.E double-hockey sticks and take the Pillsbury Dough Boy with you. You guys screwed up this team enough. You 2 couldn't get out of this town fast enough for me. Go Bolts against the Maple Fleas tonight!!

[Casper]

Definitely right about coach doing it his way. But where's the defense?

We had something to stand up at the blue line 4 very long years ago, but since, nobody is pulling splinters out of their butt for not finishing checks, blocking shots, or leveling people near our crease and (I want to avoid using screaming caps here...) goalie protection?
A year ago we bit our lip asking if Rammer was the problem. Sullivan comes in and doesn't exactly put a stellar mark on his resume'.

Torts' way has stayed the course with abject futility. Somebody needs a good shake, maybe it's me?

I don't want to sound like a broken record---oh talk about anachronistic---a filthy, grimy CD, but can we get Denis Potvin on the dad burned phone, please??
Larry Robinson or Potvin would straighten out the Bolts D and Torts, if need be. Sullivan, sheesh-----send him to Dallas too.

[nan]

Well, as long as Koules wants a mean, son of a b..., arrogant coach, keep him! Like I said before, I use to support this guy but not anymore. I don't know who said this before, but he needs anger management classes in a big way!

Congrats to Andre and Karine.

[Badbud]

Lundin's ice time should plummet. He should not have been playing as many minutes as he was. At the same time, playing Boyle for 30 minutes is ridiculous.

Lundins Ice is nonfactor,he has played pretty D,well for rookle

63 Gms 5 points + 4 13 Min's TOI

He has played a very simple game,you seldom heard his Name,This is a good thing of D-Men,Means they are not screwing up.

[Eric]

Is that not the attitude a coach should have? I don't get it...

His job is to coach the hockey team, thats what hes hired to do. Regardless of how you feel about his job performance, how can you disagree with his sentiments? Hes not hired to make the guys up in the suites happy, that will come from him winning games.

I don't think his system works all that well with his roster these last few years or maybe even with the new rules. But I love his attitude as far as this blog entry goes.

[Chief]

I like Torts more every time he speaks.
He's a hell of a good guy.

[Joe]

Everybody's a f@#k%*g expert. Sheesh.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Yo Torty: SHUT YOUR YAP!!!

[jim from nj]

chief. Prob is he doesn't make his men into leaders nor go thru with his threats properly

[mikey p]

torts... like him or not... gotta respect someone that sticks to their guns and doesnt get swayed by the fans and the media... kinda got that George Bush swagger dont he?

[jr]

bear..

That news has been chronicled on this blog but not on this thread. Try "Kuba out, Picard to play" for further detail.

[Patrick]

It would be one thing if the lightning had an all star team for a roster and we were still at the bottom, but we are far from that. We aren't even spending the maximum cap value. We've had inconsistent goaltending and we have a young defense that may or may not be NHL caliber in the near future. We've also been a one line team for 2 years.

I can't fault torterella if he doesn't have the right personel. Maybe for not adapting his system to existing personel or playing his top players too much, but he's basically stuck with what he's got. The scouts, GM and other personel management I think are the most to blame for our current situation. Tortella has shown he can get results with a quality roster.

[ajax]

Torts better realize their "IS" a next year. And if he doesn't, someone in our organization better humble him. Only a miracle could get us into the playoffs. Killing VL4 Marty and Danny is senseless and smacks of arrogance at this point of the season. Find out who wants to play among the bottom 6 forwards. Explain it that way. Who wants to block shots? Who wants to jam? Should of been explained that way 60 games ago. Heck 140 games ago.
For blogger of the year award, I nominate Ted: Fire Torts.
Feaster has to be let go. The real message I got about the new guys? They are heads and shoulders above the old guys. How do you spell rock bottom and how do you spell the guy who sunk us? FEASTER.
I had only one observation about the last two days. First you got: Did everyone see how great Brad was? I told ya he would be great, etc. etc. Then, the flipside. Did everyone see how well our new guys played? Halpern played awesome, Smith showed me something. YES, but it was only one game, don't get so excited, was always the next line.
Strange how one game was looked at so differently by the factions on the blog. Brad played 19 minutes and Jokinen played 23 minutes. That is the real story.

[Rudy]

All what happening here now, with Richie just proving that I was right all alone, and players are basically good, its only how you get it out from them. They can’t make Richie play in two years, V4 is slowing down drastically, and newer play probably 100% since Cup, Marty same story. Rest of the team, who knows. Tort get that beginners luck, which is not forever. Stanley Cup – I thing he was just in right place in right time. It was bunch of young people and old captain and all of them got to same track somehow and create that magic. That is gone now, and will newer coming back in same way. Captain was kick out by the coach who start believe that he is the one who got a cup to Tampa. He start believe that so much, that he chase away lot of good players, because he believe, that he don’t need them, that they need him, a t they will be sorry. But maybe he can realize now, that he has no control of anything now, and newer has in mater of wining that cup. That was situation, which happened just itself when lot of good people get together and create that spirit of team who want to get what they want. He has to go now and maybe old captain can put his fishing poll away for some time and try to gang wit Esposito to get that magic back.

[jr]

There's a lot of truth in what Rudy says. Torts was right place, right time but his demeanor and failure to adapt has been very revealing.

Ya gotta luv ajax. "Only a miracle" will get the Bolts in the playoffs? Dude, it would take that to the 100th power. I want what you are smoking.

[Not The Marlboro Man]

I have to say that I wasn't sold earlier this year that Torts was the problem, but I sure as heck believe he is now. With the Bloated Chin by his side, his arrogance and stubborness has yielded negative results 3 straight seasons (one and done baby). He has not backed off that terrible defensive scheme and then he presures his stars to play to the brink of fatigue every game...its horrible.

Back when there was a center line and the Lightning still skated with blazing speed, slicing through the trap like a hot knife through butter, it was great to watch how this team played. This team has slowed down considerably, changed personell and added too much youth way to fast, all on the defensive end. They aren't anywhere near as talented as they were in 2002 through 2004. The defense has definitely taken on a complete overhaul of inexperienced players. Other teams in the league have adjusted and solved the Tampa way of playing hockey. The Lightning have not changed the way they have played hockey since 2002, and don't have the talent to play like that any more. If they continue down the same path they are on and refuse to change with everyone else, Tampa will just continue to suck. The New Jersey Devils changed their style, because everyone was figuring them out. The Bolts recently "tweeked" their defense but have not solved the insidious defensive problems that have plagued this team since the lock out.

Its just like being a heavy drinker...if the Bourbon is killing you...you might have to switch to Scotch.

Torts will sooner or later have to change. If he continues on the path he's on, he will simply get fired. I don't think the new owner will subscribe to his arrogance and stubborness he exhibits on a daily basis, but I may be wrong... again. Whats really surprising to me though is that Torts has outlasted just about every coach in the league, and Feaster has outlasted just about every GM. It tells me that the past ownership has declined to be part of this team. Hopefully now with the new ownership they will demand that Torts and The Chin be held accountable for their results. Results won't be overnight.

[varnadore]

There is no new ownership.

[varnadore]

Is it true that Roy hipchecked the scrub nurse in the delivery room? I hear she went to the ER for repairs.

...Rudy, good job. Is exactly what is needed.

[Casper]

NTMM is getting to be my favorite writer. His 3/1/08 post at 1209 hit the nail and countersunk the head. Torts’ failure to adjust…(As much as weak sister roster, half@$$ effort from you know whom) etc, etc.
Shabby defense and way, way too much faith in…oh heck I won’t name that name again, let’s just say the mere notion of being led by a ‘core’ of millionaires is ice folly. The roster limit is twenty, THAT’S your freaking ‘core’!
The shifts range from 30+ down to 2---utterly ludicrous!
That’s just horsebleep coaching.

With a ‘Corps of Twenty’, everyfreakingbody is in the teens and LOW twenties in shifts and minutes.
Why in heck do we not try balancing the shifts the rest of the way? It is practice for next year; fatigue distribution practice for the Coach, and practice for roster prospects---and they are ALL prospects now…

Yes, bring up a small mob from Norfolk; remember, they were sort of locked out of training camp last September. What was it? Only 25-26 in camp. What goes through the young minds trying to get here? Give ‘em a taste major league cooze instead of futility, for cripin’ out loud. Open the camp in the Fall and screw Prague, whatever happens on that field trip, happens. The goal for October is to break camp with a ‘Corps of Twenty’.

Heh, heh, a dozen and a half Jarheads on skates, I love it!

[//]

Several posters have been saying since December Torts has failed to adjust, Casper.

Welcome to the blog.

Short memories. Vinny4 just wanted to hang out at mid ice and wait for fast breaks like he used to do in Jrs.

If you remember, Torts made him learn to play defense. Vinny has always had talent, but it took Torts insistance on doing it his way that allowed Vinny to get the results we are seing today.

After our cup win and subsequent rules changes that took away the clutching and crabbing in the neutral zone, why did so may teams try to pattern their style after ours? Because of Torts

You are going all of a sudden believe a cup winning, Jack Adams winning coach is all of a suuden turned ignorant? Because of the CUP coming out of the lock out, we were the first team that had to deal with the cap and losing key parts of the team. Every team that wins a cup losses people to big, realistic salaries.

The problems with theam are not Torts induced, they started when #35 decided to take the money and skate to Chicago.
That coupled with having to sign Vinny, Marty and Brad to big deals so we would not loose them to the new found free agency brought on by the new CBA. Our old defenseman were slow and could not keep up. Sarich and Kubina left for big money. Is that Torts" fault? Nope

Torts would be un-employed for 30 seconds before becoming a head coach with another NHL team. And any coach we brought in would be a down grade.

If you want to place blame anywhere in the organization, how about the scouting staff. Why are some teams (Detroit, Ottawa, Jersey, Dallas)able to be a the top every season? Their scoutting staffs finds good hockey players everywhere. Ours does not.

About: If you want to place blame anywhere in the organization, how about the scouting staff.
That is management Tort is part of it, don’t blame soldiers, it’s general.
About Torts insistance on doing it his way that allowed Vinny to get the results we are seing today?
yes we can see result now.
About having to sign Vinny, Marty and Brad to big deals so we would not loose them?
We just did.
Sorry that is the way I see it.

[Jackie Martling]

I wouldn't sign my name either to that superficial, uneducated post. More probably, though, it is Torts' significant other, Jay Feaster.

[Rudy]

About: If you want to place blame anywhere in the organization, how about the scouting staff.
That is management Tort is part of it, don’t blame soldiers, it’s general.
About Torts insistance on doing it his way that allowed Vinny to get the results we are seing today?
yes we can see result now.
About having to sign Vinny, Marty and Brad to big deals so we would not loose them?
We just did.
Sorry that is the way I see it

I posting this one more time, it's usualy it sign my nam automaticaly

[Buck Bartleby]

Nice try spineless, leave Rudy in peace.

[Boltnutt]

Gang Bang. Is that what happens here when someone offers a differing view. Want to talk about "spineless".

Mindless wonderers repeating and repeating the same thing over and over again. I wasn't blasting St. Rudy, just offering a different persepective.
If he or you can't the handle dialogue then puck off.

And to quote his honour, Rudy, "its usualy it sign my nam automaticaly"