Rangers News: Rangers Want More Fire from Gilroy

While we are all scratching our heads, mine included, on the recent roster move by the Rangers to send promising rookie and fan favorite Matt Gilroy to the AHL, some more information on the matter has popped up, including quotes from the ever so popular John Tortorella.

Torts expresses his views on Gilroy and the goaltending situation, and there is a new update from Dubinsky and his closing return to the lineup.

For the complete article head on over here.

Some Highlights:

Torts on Gilroy:

"With Gilly, this is part of the process. Don’t confuse this that he was on the ice for the last goal - honestly, the last goal wasn’t really his fault: we had a horse---- backcheck by one of our top players (Marian Gaborik). Even on the tying goal, we’ve got Boyle and Reds picking their (noses) too on that play. This is a situation where we’ve talked for probably two weeks now on Gilly and what is best for him. There’s one part of his game that we feel he needs to be consistent with, or at least make an effort on it, is the competing part. We’ve explained it to him, we’ve showed it to him; we still don’t think he completely understands."

There is one thing that sticks out to me here.  "There's one part of his game that we feel he needs to be consistent with, or at least make an effort on it, is the competing part.  We've explained it to him, we've showed it to him; we still don't think he completely understands."

With that, I'll respond with a big, emphatic, WHAT?  I don't think Gilroy has been a major concern.  Most of us here, myself included, had no problems with Gilroy's play.  In fact, I think most of us would agree his game has been one of the few better performances around on the team.  He has forechecked, created offense, made terrific defensive plays on some of the better known players in the league, and above all else, has produced - 6 points doesn't seem like alot, but he makes the plays happen.  Sure, there has been some rough patches in the grass, but he is a rookie.  The majority of the mistakes from Gilroy are minor, (and we know the major ones), but it is a result of the system he plays in.

Now take what Torts has said and apply it to, say, Rozsival?  The complaints have been profound in number on this site, and still we are left with no answers.  To the best of our ability, we create the possible answers ourselves and conclude his contract provides him with basically guaranteed play, whether we like it our not.

One of our possible answers to this unexpected roster move was a cap move, in which case is understandable, as a temporary move - and that I can't stress enough - to create opportunities for a Christmas miracle in a deal to shed contract woes.  However, Torts seems to have made it clear this is not the case.  He emphasized "competing".  If Gilroy's competing level has made Torts angry, then the entire team is in trouble.  We here at the Banter witness game in and game out far worse competing levels in multiple players...

"We’re tying to make him a complete player at that position," Torts said. "He can skate, he can get there; we’ve really struggled with Matt in trying to teach him, instead of mirroring, closing, and trying to get people off of pucks, get the stick on the pucks and then closing."

"And listen guys, he’s not the only one on this blue line that struggles with that. … It’s not like the other guys are absolutely dead-on with their game right now."

so why single out Gilroy?  Torts' attitude makes the whole situation seem like a long process to help Gilroy learn.  I completely disagree with Torts and just scream out how wrong of a move this is.  Did Torts have a majority say in this decision?  If so... I, just don't have words to express the matter anymore.  Torts' actions have, in my opinion led the team in the wrong direction.  I hate when he benches players, especially those who don't deserve to be benched.  This sends the wrong message to Gilroy.  He was sent down because he hasn't competed hard enough.  And you heard this right from Torts himself.

Michael Obernauer says it best when he states, "And Gilroy has proven a promising rookie, not a liability, so no, we’re not confusing this with the end of the line for the 25-year-old, just maybe the end of the honeymoon."

That's a real shame.

Torts on Goaltending:

“It’s a mess. Let’s call it what it is, it’s a mess.  Honestly, I talked to Valley at the beginning of the year, we were looking to get him 15, 17 games, that’s what we’d like to do, especially because Hank’s going to be there in the Olympics and all that. Would I still like to do that? I don’t know if I can. Johnson’s going to get a game here along the way, and I think that’s going to determine how we go about this."

“I’m not trying to paint a lousy picture, but that’s the picture it is.”

Currently he sits at an 8.32 GAA in his two appearances for the Pack.  Johnson I don't mind seeing time in net; his play during the pre-season was pretty good, and I believe he is the future back up for Hank, but the fact he was sent down to the minors makes Torts' statement unlikely.  If Johnson was to play in an upcoming game, (we know a goaltender other than Lundqvist will start in one) he would've stayed up with the club, instead of being sent down to start in a game for Hartford.  Pending no changes, it looks as if Zaba gets a nod.  If I were the Rangers, I wouldn't have any trouble starting a rookie netminder soon.

Dubinsky on Himself:

"I’m at a point right now where it’s just a matter of me and the pain: if I can play with it and it feels okay, then I can go, I can go as hard as I want, and if it hurts obviously I’m going to back off a little bit.  But I don’t think I’m at risk of injuring it again - obviously unless I take another slap shot right off the top of it - I don’t think I’m at risk doing what I’m doing. So that’s nice. For me, the X-ray doesn’t mean anything."

The X-ray Dubinsky refers to is an X-ray to be taken at the Garden tomorrow that should provide an update on the healing process, but Dubinsky followed up in saying that "I don’t think that’s going to tell me anything I don’t know already right now."  Right now it looks like a good sign.  He admits he can go as hard as he wants so knowing the injury itself doesn't affect him is a nice update.  The pain understandably hurts still so we'll wait and see the next X-ray and hopefully he'll take it slow from there to be safe.  I personally don't think there is a rush to get him back on skates.  Playing with an injury healed is much better than playing with an injury not healed.  So Dubie, my advice to you is to wait until you're pain free.

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The last couple of days has included venting out any frustrations with the team.  I personally believe if the Rangers lose against Buffalo, Torts should be fired.  But that's my opinion.  And maybe Gilroy will be called up and apologized to.