Tortorella lets fly

Former Lightning coach John Tortorella declined to speak about his time with Tampa Bay or his feelings about the organization in an interview I did with him earlier Thursday; his new gig with TSN as a studio analyst was upper most in his mind. But Torts got revved up during an interview with 1200 The Team sports radio in Ottawa and for the first time weighed in on new Tampa Bay owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie  (“I have zero respect for them”), the team’s acquisition of defenseman Andrej Meszaros (“I think it’s a hell of a deal for the Ottawa Senators), the Dan Boyle trade, Vinny Lecavalier and more.

Tortorella, 50, was fired after last season’s last-place finish, ending a seven-season run that included four straight playoff appearances, the 2004 Stanley Cup title and being named the 2004 Jack Adams Trophy winner as the league’s top coach.

“Again, I don’t wish anything bad on the players or anything like that,” Tortorella said. “I just have a tough time understanding some of the thinking going on with the club. I guess when you invest seven years, you want to still see them do well, but I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to happen there.”

NOTE: This is a longer version of what is in Friday's paper, so it is not all redundant, though there is some overlap.

On the many changes to the Lightning: You got a couple of cowboys in there as owners. You finish 30th in the National Hockey League, I was there for seven years, I know it’s coming as a coach, and it probably should come to a coach if you finish 30th. But how it all goes about and how you treat your people and run your business is very important in this league. I look at the club and how some things have been done and how they treated Danny Boyle and really lying to the kid, and some of the other things that have gone on there, it’s a total different team. Do I think the team needed to be blown up for it to get back to competing? No, I don’t.

There still are some good players there. But new owners  come in and they  try to reinvent the wheel. I’m anxious to see what happens. I don’t wish anything bad on them. I have a lot of loyalty to the players who are still there and people who work in the office. But as far as the two cowboys that went in there and bought that team, I have zero respect for them.

On the Boyle trade: I knew that was going to happen … during the trading deadline where myself, Jay Feaster and all the administration of that team were locked in the room  with owners that were still in the process of trying to buy the team. It turned ugly in there because of some of the thoughts they had, and they still hadn’t even dropped a penny on the club. I sat across from Lennie Barrie and Lennie Barrie started talking to me about Dan Boyle when he played with him seven, eight years ago in Florida, which makes no sense to me because I think after seven or eight years a guy may mature and improve his game. I begged them to sign Danny Boyle. If you’re going to trade Brad Richards at the deadline, which we shouldn’t have done at that point in time, and then let Danny Boyle just go, what do you think Vinny and Marty (St. Louis) are going to think about there the next year starts? They grudgingly decided to sign him but I knew once they signed all these forwards during the summer, during the free agency,  (he) was going to go.

On acquiring Meszaros for Filip Kuba, Alex Picard and a No. 1 pick: Meszaros, we all know he’s a good player. He’s a young player. He’s a durable player But is he more than a 35-, 40-point guy? That’s my question. I think Filip Kuba is that and then some, though a little older. But you also have this kid in Picard. … He’s going to be a good player and he has some jam to him also. And who knows where that No. 1 pick falls into play here. I think it’s a hell of a deal for Ottawa .

On Lecavalier: I think he’s at times the best player in the league and at least in the top three or four, and he has matured incredibly. But I think the key for Vinny  was a structured environment. When they signed Vinny to that contract and they basically (made) him a partner, I worry is it going to be enough structure there and where it’s going to go in his game. He is such a gifted player and has so many years left, I hope he understands how to handle some of those situations and maybe teach along the way here, not just the players and his teammates but some of the people around him that are running the team.

On Steve Stamkos: There's a guy I have heard so much about and am really anxious to see play. I hope they do it the right way and allow him to grow and put him in the right situations. I'm a firm believer that a player, no matter hat he's touted as and what his potential is, still has to go through the process of becoming a pro in this league. I hope the people around him and Vinny, I think that's one of his  main jobs this year, to make him understand what it is to take the steps in being a pro.

On Tampa Bay's defense: To create a competitive hockey team, you have to work from the back end out with your goaltender and your defense. Listen, I like (goalie Mike Smith). I like the way he presents himself. I like his arrogance. But he still hasn't proven himself as a No. 1 goalie in this league. That's why I think it was good they signed (Olaf) Kolzig. Olie is getting older but he competes, but we still have question marks about Smith as a No. 1. And then you put a young blue line in front of him where maybe as you go along the way and you're trying to develop as a No. 1, pucks are going to go in your net, and then your confidence goes as far as your defensemen. I'm not making any excuses. We lived with that for the past two or three years. ... When you have some youth there who are going to be good players, it's a dangerous situation. You're not going to win hockey games from the forward. You need to start from the back end out.   

Comments

[matt]

Sour grapes? Here's the reason he was fired, plain and simple and I am quoting the article....

"Do I think the team needed to be blown up for it to get back to competing? No, I don’t."

And where exactly does he think the Bolts finished last season?

[Patrick]

I have a ton of respect for Torts for the job he did in 2003-2004. But, I feel these comments are little more than sour grapes and he is doing nothing but hurting his chances at another head coaching gig by airing his dirty laundry.

[Patrick]

Oops, didn't see your comment up there Matt. Looks like we're on the same wavelength though.

[Dan]

I think a good portion of Torts' assessment was spot-on. While I think Mezsaros is going to be a dynamite player, I don't think it was worth getting rid of Kuba and Picard (not to mention a round 1 pick). No wonder Otawa jumped all over that trade.

[Leanmean43]

Tortorella is right about alot of what he said. Trading Boyle in my opinion was a stupid move, they pretty much replaced him with Meszaros who is probably half as good as Boyle. I like most of the moves the new owners have made, but they need to treat players with respect and be honest with them.

I fear that if the team gets off to a slow start the owners might start trading key cogs to the team (Marty St. Louis). They have to be patient with this team and hopefully by the end of the season they'll be in position to make the playoffs.

[Don in St. Pete]

Boyle was a minus 29 last season and a major reason pucks landed in our net the last 3 years. Those of you that can't see that, need to study hockey a little more. While I appreciate Danny's offensive accomplishments, when 3x as many pucks end up in your net as you help produce, it tends to be a problem. The new owners were smart, and their vision has allowed them to build us back into a playoff team and with one more move perhaps into a contender. Anyone that thinks that would have happened under the old management needs to get a new grip on life.

[chris]

No wonder Tortorella was passed up on numerous jobs. I thank him for our Stanley Cup. But I think I have just lost all of the little respect I had remaining for him.

[PD]

Don the problem of yours and that of your pithy sidekick, is that you just don't get hockey.
You are great great Bolt fans but just don't get the reality of the game.

That's why Leo can tie you in knots without breaking a sweat.

Torts is the real expert here.Shoot the messanger all you want cuz it won't work. The guy is highly respected where it counts.
Here he lays in with truth after truth, truths that you Koules koolaiders just can't take:

Should have never traded your diamond assets Boyle and Richards/d'oh

Should have never made the Mezsaros trade in light of the value of Picard and the 1st, with Kuba likely out performing them all short term. d,oh

Bad/fatal decision to bet your team on an unproven goalie D'oh

Spent way too much upfront leaving no credible experienced defencemen at all to seal the back end to win games and protect the unproven goalie.

The team is different not better, they were nuts to try and reinvent the wheel.

Stamkos shouldn't be counted to play a huge leadership role in his 1st year/

Any of this sound familiar boys ??

Can't wait to see the full article.

Two camps, the hockey people and the Koules wannabees here. Man are some of you guys in for a surprise.

Well done Damian, you have been rockin.

[Voice of the Turtle]

In response to an earlier blog by Damien, I wrote "Don't think that John (Tortorella) will harbor any resentful feelings and say things that he'd later regret in his comments about the Lightning.." Obviously, I was wrong, very wrong, about the limits of his personal containment and his perspective on the demands of NHL professionalism.

Although his angst toward the new Lightning owners will make great TV drama for the TSN gang and create fabulous copy for Toronto and Ottawa media, Patrick is dead on when he indicates that Torts may well be hammering nails into the coffin of his coaching career. John might also be turning his Canadian TV performances into an edgy side show.

Torts used to annoy me, now I just feel sorry for him.

[Tom M]

Torts...grow up, man! No wonder your wife wants you out of the house, you crybaby!

[ajax]

PD as I go to bed I read 10 blogs all with the same thoughts and then (BANG) you, as usual, calling all of us idiots and kool aid drinkers and self proclaiming that you know real hockey and all of us are living in lala land. I can live with that. The rest of you, I don't think you are to far off. By the way, till this very day Torts doesn't think he overused those same diamonds that he is talking about. And PD, I think Leo has agreed with you about one time in 3 months, probably one time more than the rest of us idiots agree with you.
What I loved most was the quote from Torts, "how You treat people, is important in this league" Just like the other article when he said something to the effect, "everyone thinks I am to hard and rip people, it is untrue" I guess that humble pie is still sitting in front of him and Torts is wondering who it is for??? People think it John, because they have seen how you behave and if the shoe fits. PD you state John is respected by the people who count. 7 coaching vacancies and 0 jobs. Once again the facts shatter that brilliant mind of yours. Why PD, why did he not get a job?? Signed ignorant Ajax. And somehow, I know Leo pretty darn well and I just don't think he is on your bandwagon. Just my gut.
PD I really can't believe you go to any of the games. If you do, how do you sit there and pull for stinky Tampa to lose every night?? Is there anything you like about the Bolts?? Maybe Floater Vinny??

[Boltflasher]

John's comments are a bit of sour grapes but also show why changes needed to be made. Even though he acknowledges that the team finished 30th, he can't accept that an overhaul was needed. Whether or not the overhaul was accomplished remains to be seen, but that does not diminish the fact that changes were needed or at least attempted for a lousy 30th team...at least OK has made the attempt. And as the team gets off to an expected slow start, I expect several here to immediately start saying how it didn't work....we really won't know until about 2/3 into the season...lets see how they are playing then...

[Hockey Chic]

This is why change is good folks. PD while you are quick to jump on us Kool Aide drinkers you need to think about not just last year but the year before that and the one before that one as well.

Last year we were Last in the League. The year before we barely made it into the playoffs and were swept in the first round. The reason why Torts was not happy with the new ownership is they wanted change.

In Torts mind the best thing about Richardson was that he left everything a lone and did not even add money to the budget after the cup year.

While everyone argues with the changes OK has made ie: richards and boyle trades I still say lets see what can happen. Give it a try, it is like a new recipe you have to try a bite before you spit it out.. lol

Torts will always be respected for making the team a contender but it is time for him in his words to, "shut his yap," and let the remaining players from the CUP team and the newbies see if it will work..

If not we only have up to go from here. Thanks DC for the article I needed to get my blood pumping this morning..

Go Bolts!!

[Steve R]

Has anything been done to kick your scouts and farm teams into shape? It's well and good that y'all improved quite a bit via free agency, but that's not a long term solution to the problem. If you can't draft well and develop that talent, you're hosed.

[Don in St. Pete]

PD, From former post's I've seen, I believe you're the only one that thinks Leo twist's me in knots. At least Leo thinks positively most of the time, which is more than can be said for you. Steve, they hired Greg Malone ( who was lead scout of the Pens for years ) and fired Jake Goertzen. They've made other changes as well, bringing in Tom Kurvers and Mike Vernon.

[Nan]

Hey Torts, I think it is time to let go of your old job! No hard feelings, huh? This is what TSN is counting on, the spouting off of the mouth, once you get going, you just do more damage to yourself!

I can't wait to see how this team gels. If all these changes are going to work and it will take time. Still waiting to see some veteran leadership on that defense. Hopefully more moves to come on that front.

Go Bolts!

[PD]

Heh Ajax, Torterella had no lead time thanks to Koules, so you think that then shows he isnt highly respected? Well not much to say about that one.

I could care less if Leo agrees with me. I just said he knows hockey at a macro level and when it comes to the quality vs quantity issue he gets it, when it comes to it might be a good idea to have a defence, he gets it.

Don you are right , generally you hammer him

[Another Joe]

The problem is we've been living off the 2004 Stanley Cup. Coutning the lockout its 4 seasons since the cup and we havent won a playoff series, developed a dependable minor league system, and gave out some big contracts that killed us.

This team needed this kinda of change. I also was living in a dream world the last two years. A few of my thoughts on new team/owners.

1-Trading Boyle needed to be done. the contract he got was to much money for to long. Im a Boyle fan but thats the fact on that.

2-The Richards trade all depends on how Smith does.

3-The Meszaros trade cant be evaluated yet. but i do believe he is a better defensive player then Kuba and may not bring the point production, but should improve our defense. If we overpaid for him only time will tell.

4-The additions of Stamkos,Malone,Vrbata(sp?) make our top two lines better then theyve been in 3 seasons.

5-I think our blue line will be faster and has more depth. how will that translate in wins only time will tell.

Overall im excited for season all our ad mine and torts questions will be answered in April 2009.

[vickie]

I think Torts was a great , passionate coach but being coach for too long starts to turn players ears off. I do agree that we should have kept Boyle and not did him dirty like that. Next, Smith is arrogant and he neds to release some air and come back to hard ground. I'm glad Ollie is getting the cnahce but the Caps did him so wrong for a guy who invested so much time there. I think our defense is going to be stronger even though they are younger. I just hope that our forwards(2nd thru 4th line) find chemistry and work with each other often to find it. Sometimes getting to know the person and watching what they have done in the past works guys.(Not the 1st line)/

I think i'll make a great coach..

[Steve R]

Don,

Forgot about Malone. How's your depth in Norfolk? How many of your excess forwards will have to clear waivers to get sent down?

[Steve R]

Vickie,

How exactly did the Caps do Olie wrong? He demonstrated on the ice that he was no longer a number one keeper & he would not return our GM's calls after the season ended. If he was interested in coming back in a reduced role, he sure didn't communicate that to the Caps management.

[vagrant]

Bitter and then some. Much respect for Torts and wish nothing but the best for him. The bolts were in LAST place, generally a position that requires some coaching alterations. As for his comments on the Boyle trade, the hefty contract that he signed put quite a strain on the salary cap and wasnt conducive to the owners objectives of overhauling a LAST place team. If torts were still in Tampa he wouldnt have a thing to say about about any of the moves that have been made by the new ownership that has forked out the $ to restore the lightning to a legitimate hockey team, undoubtedly better than the previous season.

[marosh]

I know I´am out of topic but the tickets for an exhibition game in SLOVAKIA are fuc..... expansive! I promised i can make a small report about that game, but I don´t know now, price is from 150 to 300 bucks!!! iTs sick I think, nobody is the greatest fan of bolts in our land but I can´t pay so much in this time, but If it´s on TV I will make a strong report, because it´s gonna be the last game before our season boys, SLOVAN BRATISLAVA is the team what I like here, but Tampa is my LIFE.

[rbc]

seee yaaaa john, you and jay had 7 years to do what needed to be done, yes we won a cup but what kind of team did you leave us. The bolts kept getting worse and all we heard is our best players had to play better, maybe if torts and jay didn't deplete this team of all its secondary players and replace them with ahl caliber players. Ownership have brought us back to an nhl level caliber team and i for one am happy. By the way it was reported that martin tried to sign mezz for close to what the bolts signed him for in money and length, so if the trade was so good why would he do that. martin wanted him to stay mezz wanted to leave plain and simple. GO Bolts

[Kincaid]

Plain and simple pretty much nails it RBC, was it Martin Short?

Precislely what did coach Torterella have to do with the depletion of his lineup RBC? You may be on to something

[rod]

Wow that last paragraph makes me laugh. Torts is the KING of killing his goalies confidence. How many times has he pulled a goalie after 2-3 goals in the last 3 years?

[Bryan]

Last time Torts had a goalie was 04, when last checked.

[ajax]

You have to start with Defense?? That is downright commical coming from one John Tortorella. Is that why the Lightning put all there eggs into their forwards three years ago?? John wanted to set the NHL afire with a high powered offense. That was his system. I find his quotes amazing considering how he coached. His definition of D is having a goalie who would consistently stop the odd man rushes. His choices (and Feaster) were to sign forwards and fill in the rest with AHL players. How could he even suggest D when all he taught was forecheck, push push push?? Crazy on his part to gloss over the obvious, way way to late in the game. He talks about respect. I wonder if Perin and Roy and Modin and Grahame, etc etc feel he respected them? I wonder if 4 guys leading the league in minutes was showing them respect? I wonder if playing Boyle 33 minutes in a meaningless game with a bad hand is respectful. John was General Patton, every period of every game was WWIII. And his players were his soldiers, only with numbers on their backs. They had to play until they were dead. They were expendable for the cause. They had to give every inch on every play, even when the war was lost. Total tunnel vision is usually pretty dangerous. John always had the word I in his sentences. He won't be missed and obviously many people around the league see the real John Torts. The article is a snapshot of John. Never take a step backwards. Run over whomever it takes to get "your" point across. He lost it, plain and simple, and everyone he touched had to pay for his burning anger. He always lived by the motto "I am not here to make anyone happy" Total singular vision. Those people usually do have "people" issues. Those people usually do lose their ability to lead. IS it any wonder he wore out the welcome mat??

[Bryan]

Wow great long winded bashing
Are you aware that he was the coach not the GM?
Did the guy piss in your wheaties while winning a cup?

[rbc]

My bad kincaid, murray is the name (not bill either). John as a coach had a say so in the line up and never heard him complain about not having players needed to compete. He is not shy about telling you straight, never heard a thing about our ahl caliber players. Fact is the new owners are filling are depleted coffers, first the team and then our affiliates. Once again count ourselves lucky to have owners with a vision!!!! Time will tell..... GO BOLTS.

[rbc]

i mean (our)

[Kincaid]

Torts had no say in the depleting payroll and if he did he would agree with it??????wow

Like others, happy to see the $$$ not so happy with the cowboy amateur vision.

[ajax]

Thank-you Bryan for an obvious truth. Torts LOVED Brad. I am 110% sure he was behind many moves. Him and Feaster were joined at the hips until they woke up one day in last place and had their "differences" Strength is not having the motto "never give up" strength is having the courage to change when failure is smacking you right in the face. thank goodness the "cowboys" rode into town.
Does Torts get a lifelong exempton for being the winning coach of the Cup one time, a long long time ago?
Horribly inept upper management saved both Torts and Feaster for a year. It also let Torts be out of control with no one above him to rein him in.
Coaches openly blasting the guys who are writing their checks are a very very rare bird. Torts had no problem taking every issue in his life to the press, even management. Maybe that is why other owners were very leary of da hot head. And to think he really feels his reputation is so unfair. WOW

[Bryan]

Let it all out Ajax...wow
Did Torts cause you to fail your drivers test too?

[rbc]

payroll was higher in 07/08 than in 04. so does that mean our team should've been better, we won a cup with less payroll???????? No of course not, but we signed some players to deals that were team killers (richards),he is a 5 to 6 mill player not 8. those kind of contracts killed our team and jay and john were hand in hand on these deals. We are signing all these new player deals for 3,4 and 4.5 mill for years and if it works out great but if it don't we tried. Be happy we are not stuck with the same old rubber tube patch to fix a sinking ship that was the lightning.

[Bryan]

Price of gas was a little lower in 04 too RBC.
Suggest if you want to see insane contract terms try Malone or Mazzaro

Again are you blaming Jon for this?

[Tony]

Nice to see him rip into the new owners once he found another job.I hope Torts enjoys his T.V. gig for a looong time....Oh yeah and thanks for '04.

[rbc]

no, i am not. only time will tell with the new players and i am willing to wait. new owners are gonna be geniuses or idiots only time will tell.

[David]

Torts may be right about the trade with Ottawa. I'm not too sad to see Kuba go, but Picard had great upside I think, and a #1 is a #1 is a #1 is a #1.

The biggest mistake Koules and Barrie made was letting Feaster and Torts bully them into keeping Boyle originally. If they stick to their guns there are fewer bad feelings about how it goes down.

Face it, Boyle and Richards had big contracts for bad numbers. And folks, they weren't treated badly at all. That makes me laugh. They have guaranteed contracts and they go to another city to make the same money playing a game. You want to see treated badly, go take a look at the millions of people who work for a company for years then are told one day it's done and that's it, no more job, no more salary, no more benefits, good luck with the house payment.

So Torts and Feaster had a man-crush on those two players and the new owners are reviled for cleaning up the mess. Go figure.

Also, can we lay to rest the anti-Lightning Melrose rumors. I don't like the guy and I think he's a hack coach, but people have gone over the tapes of him during the cup run and the anti-lightning comments were few and far between. You may not know it, but commentators on that network are often given a position to hold so that there will be some debate between the analysts, and the side they have to hold up may not be the one they agree with. ESPN is as much entertainment as sports reporting.

Brad is gone.
Dan is gone.
Torts is gone.
Feaster is gone.

You can harbor your grudges, or you can let it go. Whatever works for you.

I think the new owners may be a little touched, but they've at least been willing to put money into the payroll and make some much needed moves. Save the hate for the end of the season.

Although I think being right is more important for some people here even if it means defeat for the Lightning.

[Amanda]

I think Torts is pretty much justified in feeling the way he feels. He was lied to, misled, and deceived plenty.
However, I think it was totally classless the way he aired it all out like that. Two wrongs don't make a right. He's OBVIOUSLY not totally blameless; he's made his share of bad moves and burned some bridges, but I understand that he was on the receiving end of a lot of it, too.
I don't know. I guess I'm just disappointed, because I thought Torts would have taken the higher road and been above this public tirade.

[léo]

Let's just get this over with:
Everything that "seemed" bad was Tortie's fault and everything that "seems" good is new management's fault.
Boom and boom.
But the polemic, wow! What a fantastic page! Best of the month so far.
It does look like sour grapes from Tortie but like another poster pointed out, that's TV. Whadjoo expect on Primetime? "Hey Tortie, tell us about TB. We're live to our 2 million sponsors who are paying you."
"Oh no, no. I can't. It's better if we just leave dead air for the next few minutes." C'mon. TV.
They're just about to recast it over the radio in a few minutes, actually. Can't wait.
Consider that if Tortie was well loved, it would be "Oh, he speaks from the heart." or "He's just telling the truth, no matter how much it hurts, gotta respect'im fer that."
Not saying anything he said was right or wrong; just pointing out that when he refers to Len Kouliwood as a couple of "cowboys", is that REALLY out of left-field? You don't call someone a cowboy nowadays unless that person is noticeably... "impetuous", for lack af a better word
Hey, the guy's been there for 7 years. He knows NOTHING about the team??? C'mon. He knows SOMEthing, even if it WAS good for TB that he's no longer there.
As for who agrees with who on the blog, you must remember that even if A agrees with B, it don't mean A and B are correct. Or INcorrect for that matter.
It's just us. I doubt any of our ideas are applied in a practical manner to your team.
Little story,
Carbo has said more than once that he ALWAYS listens to 110% and La Zone des sports and Sport du lit and Les Amateurs de sports and alla those shows. And that SOMETIMES, he DOES hear good ideas and says to himself that he should try it next game.
Here's my point,
All of Us have good, less good, and downright goofy ideas which are EXACTLY the same...but slightly different. How can ANY ONE of Us be able to stand up during a game and shout out, "Hey! That was MY idea!" ?
Cuz the guy beside you would say, "No, it was mine!"
"Ok, it was ours. What a great idea!"
"Yeah, we woulda done it that way, but with this too."
"What? That? That's no good! With this instead."
"What? You must not know hockey."
So there is no wise'ole man, even Scotty goofed up here and there.
So agree and disagree to your heart's content and enjoy! Thought that was the whole point of the thing from the get-go. By all means, affirm. Affirm, I say!
Just don't fudge up.
Cuz I'll bite ya!
P.

[ajax]

A coach admitting he listens cause he might hear something good. That is a smart man. A humble man. A man who is growing. Somehow I can't imagine John listening to ANYBODY. It was "his team" "If they don't like the way I coach they can get me the h*ll out of here" I think the one statement that said WOW to me more than anything is the time he basically said "screw the Olympics, I only care about my team" I thought double WOW, such disrespect and such I-ism.
The real difference of course is John taking everything for the past two years to the papers. Run your clubhouse the way you like, but keep it in the clubhouse. That one little change in his "zen" would of probably made a huge difference to both players and media and fans. But John sure did like the bright lights didn't he. I guess he still does (maybe he is secretly Frank Sinatra's son--I did it my way??)
Leo, I agree with you, your brain must of got frozen a long time ago during one of your stints as goalie on the St. Lawrence (I know you were a goalie cause that is where they stick all of the band kids when they were little) See, I am agreeable. GBY

[ajax]

Everyone needs to go to Yahoo Sports/hockey. Their is an article Puck Daddy and then a blog about the Torts comments. Makes highly entertaining reading. I will try and paste at end of blog.
I think I liked the summation by the author best. I think "most" of you would say right on. It says anyone who didn't think this team needed to be blown up is dillusional. Just a quote. I don't make the news I just report it. They add these "Cowboys" have actually made the Lightning a contender again. Nice to hear.
They finish with saying "Torts is a cowboy who will continue to disrespect their efforts until someone takes the mic away from him"
Just for a second, I think I am at peace with the universe. HERE it is. I think.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Tortorella-calls-new-Tampa-owners-cowboys-rip;_ylt=ArZ5_ASpbtW4PU5wKGeOn_Z7vLYF?urn=nhl,105778

[Pd]

"It says anyone who didn't think this team needed to be blown up is dillusional. Just a quote. I don't make the news I just report it."

Seems that everyone that doesnt agree with you Ajax is delusional..project much? And you just seem to report only attribs positive to you no matter how far down the barrel you need to go to find them.

Why don't you google the author of that piece..Hockey expert or the reknown Clown of Hockey Journalistas AKA the Dave Barry of hockey.

Kinda suits ya.

[léo]

Of course "Puck Daddy" is right on, Ajax.
He says what "most" of you wanna hear.
Same way I scoff when I hear pundits say my Boys played "over their heads" and "will be lucky to make the playoffs".
But I tend to lend an ear when "other" Puck Daddies say my Boys making the Final is a sure thing.
It's just a voice, Ajax, not fact. Yer lucky to get INFORMATION. Information, you can collate yourself, independently of what others think.
It all depends on yer level of objectivity or astutitness..situde, I guess.
Moving on to the Tortinator,
Wasn't the TSN interview as I'd thought, it was our city station that Tortie talked to.
I will omit all repetitions, such as his being against the blow-up, Boyle and Smith comments which were also addressed.
He said the key reason in all of the 3year fiasco has been the goaltending. He liked the guys. They tried real hard. But they couldn't stop the puck. And he said the goalie is the most important position in any club. If you don't get the saves, you don't win.
Asked if he EVER heard of a deal with Mtl for V4, he said, No. It always comes up but and no point was there ever any calls made, one way or the other...which kind of surprises ME, to tell you the truth; thought We'd at least CALL. Of course, that was for the last 7 years only.
Asked about the Sundin situation, he said he heard everyone saying that a player, at that point, has no obligations to decide anything while not under contract and he says that's a load of fooey. A player should report his intentions if the LEAGUE wants to know. A date should be set whereafter no players could play the year.
He says We take the East. He may have only been being polite...
Then the soundbyte of the commentator screaming his lungs out that the Lightning had won the Stanley Cup.
Tortie: "You're killin' me."
He was not amused.
P.

[ajax]

PD, I never make it personal. Never. Sadly you always immediately attack the person not the opinion. You do it time after time. Not my style. I can take it though, I simply have an opinion. One that I feel is way on the side of the majority. PD to be honest, I can't remember the last time you had anything positive to say about the Bolts. I don't even think they are your "team" It was a national blog, and it said pretty much what so many of us "local" fellow bloggers have written. Then the comments written afterwards were about 85/15 saying the same thing about Tortorella. And PD that is what the guy wrote, not me. I think he simply stated what a vast majority of people that are Lightning fans also think. Just me. These Cowboys, have been applauded from coast to coast for at least making the effort and spending the bucks to right the ship. One thing that is univeral is the mindset that something/anything had to be done. You simply are in the minority that sees differently. You constantly slam what any of us say but what is your solution?? Put the numbers to the paper PD. They couldn't possibly work. The new team might not work, but something had to be done. Make a roster of 47-49 million PD with Vinny Brad Marty Danny Prospal Stamkos and Kuba. Please make the roster, the web is full of tools to easily do this. I guarentee that roster has about 5, no 7 guys with 10 career goals making 550k per year, and don't forget to pencil in Homer as the goalie of that team. What is your solution??? What would you have done???
PD, your constant insults do get old. I just want to talk hockey and spell out my opinion with facts and data. I love when people open my eyes. I love the blog. i never liked when people disliked Feaster because he was a big man. No sense to the personel digs. No reasons to grade his job just because he is overweight. Judge us by our reasoning. For example you say I hate Brad. What I hated was 7.8 mil tied up with a guy who has 45 goals the last two years. Never hated Brad, despised his contract. Have said that a zillion times. I think when you pay any employee more than anyone else and more than any of your peers it is natural to assume he will be the best. That is business 101. But you constantly respond to this as a deep seeded Brad basher with no basis of my opinion. Two Dmen making 4 million or one Brad Richards. Crazy question to me but hey that is what makes the world go round.

[PD]

Kaboom Ajax, Puck Daddy all over you.

Your strong innuendo of course re: the delusional, isn't there is it Ajax?

Neither are the two 4 million dollar defencemen.

Hockey people aren't big on a team with no goalie and no D and you shouldn't need hockeys comedien to say it aint so.

Get over it

[Fogelberg]

PD, you suck, dude.

[sick of JT's BS]

What else can you do after alienating your players, finishing last in the NHL, getting fired from your job, and then getting passed over for 7 or 8 other coaching positions in the league? You can dance like a monkey for Canadian media by openly venting all your damaged feelings and by angrily blaming others for your problems.

Other fired coaches walk away from their former employers and manage to behave in classy ways because they understand the business, they handle their disappointments like adults, and they are guided by their own senses of self esteem.

[Hockey1]

JT needed to go any coach who treated the Players the way he did so publically is unprofessional. Richie and Boyler were perfect and that was it. Danny never played D, he was a frustrated forward and that's where he belongs. Intersting also how every one on the line with Brad were always at fault too. That is why Tort's is gone. Can't wait for the SEASON and a new TEAM!!!!! GO BOLT'S.

[LightningRod]

Give me a break. Tort's saying "it's all about how you treat people around this league". This from a guy who regularly and publicly berated his own players. He sees it as a weakness in others but not himself. Talk about a myopic view of the world, as it spins about you. In the end, Tort's weakness were his own inability to see that he could be wrong, and his refusal to change. The swinging door apparently didn't come quick enough; nor did it close quick enough and hit hard & high enough.