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Rangers News: Comments from John Tortorella on Gilroy, Heikinnen, and the goaltending "mess"

Andrew Gross had some interesting comments from John Tortorella today: (click link for full story)

Some of the highlights:

On Ilkka Heikkinen:

"It’s not like the other guys are absolutely dead on with their game right now," Tortorella said. "I see a player that has a little bit of jam to him and is willing to hit. We’ll take a chance with some of the mistakes because the guys that aren’t hitting are making mistakes, too."

On Matt 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(bleep) backcheck by one of our top players (Marian Gaborik). Even the tying goal, we’ve got Boyle and Reds picking their (butts), too, on that play."

Finally, and maybe most interesting of all, on the backup goalkeeper situation:

"It’s a mess. Let’s call it what it is, it’s a mess. Honestly, I talked to Valley (Steve Valiquette) at the beginning of the year, we were looking to get him 15-17 games. That’s what I like to do, especially that 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, I think that’s going to determine how we go about this. Has it changed? It had to change. We sent a veteran backup down and he’s still struggling down there and we don’t even know what we have with Johnson as far as a backup. I’m not trying to paint a lousy picture but that’s the picture it is. It’s an ongoing thought in my head what we’re going to do. That’s the best I can do."

I can't help but think that last comment on the goalie situation is a thinly veiled criticism of the front office.

One last thing: Brandon Dubinsky skated again today, sounds like he is getting closer to returning.

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Same article... thought this was interesting too

" 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 pucks. He’s not the only one on this blue line that struggles with that. The last thing I want to do is put him in a box as he’s just been awful. He has a lot to learn about the game and I don’t give a damn if he’s a Hobey Baker winner or not"

How can Torts say Gilroy has been awful??? Seems like a huge overstatement. Rozsival might have been awful but not Gilroy. Just growing pains with him, nothing else.

by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 11, 2009 9:52 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

he’s just been awful. He has a lot to learn about the game and I don’t give a damn if he’s a Hobey Baker winner or not"

What a terrible statement to make……I am not sure what Torts was trying to prove by saying this but now he looks like an idiot. If this is how he felt, saying he wanted Gilroy to spend some time improving his game in Hartford would have been a much better statement than throwing this crap out there. Gilroy wasn’t great but he wasn’t close to being awful. Torts is an A**HOLE.

by squiggyacfd on Dec 11, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Jim, I was in the middle of posting my take on this whole thing, as you got yours up.

Damn. I really thought I was first. Spent an hour making a post and fixing problems in the posting process only to post it and find someone beat me to it.

"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen

by rmc235 on Dec 11, 2009 10:14 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

So he thinks Gilroy wasn’t playing well, and he’s giving Rozsival up to 25 minutes a night.

I mean, either he’s got a glorious future life as a standup comic or the team is in more trouble than we thought.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Dec 11, 2009 11:28 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Rozsival is definitly not playing 25 min a night lol

But he is playing which is a huge problem

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Dec 12, 2009 2:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

I said up to

And two of the last 4 games he’s been 25 or greater.

In the last 7 it’s been no fewer than 22:34. Brutal.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Dec 12, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

the bottom line

……is the guys who make bank on the team get playing time, and the guys on entry contracts get screwed.

by KingHenrik30 on Dec 11, 2009 11:30 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

torts is a bully.

benched dubinsky ealr on. then aniismov two games ago. has benched lisin for a while now. sent down gilroy and called his play awful.

but doesnt do a thing about drury or roszival. hold all players accountable, not just the yougn ones you can bully around

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Dec 12, 2009 9:00 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Sounds like

hes trying to get Gilroy’s engine going. Remember the way Herb Brooks handled some of his players? He wants them to play a certain way and fire them up. I wouldnt worry about the tirades as it may just work.

by Dekim19 on Dec 12, 2009 11:10 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

He is a bully, but if the players can’t handle it, they don’t belong in the NHL.

Though, I do agree with your comment that his criticisms need to be directed at our veterans too.

by goodieNY on Dec 12, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

if gilroys playing horrible, what word do we use to describe Roszival’s game?

by louielounz1 on Dec 12, 2009 12:25 PM EST via mobile reply actions   0 recs

atrocious?

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Dec 12, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

non existent?

by goodieNY on Dec 12, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

oh its existance

just look at all the Rangers points lost

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Dec 12, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

lmao

INCOMPETENT, atrocious, abominable, awful, dreadful, painful, SHITTY, terrible, unspeakable, deplorable, distressing, lamentable, pitiful, sad, sorry, fearful, HOPELESS, horrid, icky, crappy, lousy, rotten, unskilled, PATHETIC, horrible, disastrous, detrimental, inferior, ABYSMAL, inadequate, miserable, inept, appaling, lousy, USELESS, damaging, agonizing, blameable, brutal, cantankerous, CATASTROPHIC, depressing, despricable, destructive, detestable, AGGRAVATING, disgraceful, disheartening, garbage, godawful, ghatstly, EXCRUCIATING, horrendous, intollerable, nauseating, reprehensible, UNBEARABLE, unrealiable, vulgar, woeful, WORTHLESS

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Dec 12, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

what about “excellent outlet passer” or “great shot from the point”…o wait you’re not glen haha

LETS GO RANGERS

by sloppyseconds on Dec 12, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

wow moshe send that to rozy as ‘biggest fan’ mail

by louielounz1 on Dec 12, 2009 2:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

lmao

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Dec 12, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I’ll put some ex lax in rosi’s food so he cant play and we can get that win tonight

Save by Richter!

by spartan12 on Dec 12, 2009 1:46 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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