Let me say, for starters, that Tom Renney did many wonderful things for the Rangers.
He blended many challenging egos into a TEAM. He regularly guided the club into the playoffs. He was a gentleman and a scholar.
But by the start of the homestretch in late Winter, it became evident that a dramatic change was necessary. The team simply was not responding to Mister Nice Guy and that's why John Tortorella was imported.
In one fell swoop, the Rangers dressing room became a hockey version of the U.S. Marines Boot Camp in
The drill sergeant is John Tortorella and woe to the privates – which is EVERYONE on the Rangers roster – who don't get it. His sign could read: IT'S THE TORTS WAY OR THE HIGHWAY. (Ask Nik Zherdev.)
But Torts is more than that. He has amazing catalytic qualities that transcend his decibel count. The man's hockey mind ranks with the Scotty Bowmans and Al Arbours of our time. He sees things clearly and sees them whole and the results already are quite evident.
The Tortorella style – The Maven calls it Hockey Au Go-Go – is suited to up-tempo skaters, such as Scott Gomez and Ryan Callahan. Firewagon hockey IS the order of the day in the new NHL and also happens to be most appealing to the fans.
When he arrived on
John's job was – and still is – to extract the full potential out of each one. But because he is doing it on the fly during the most pressurized point in the regular schedule, Tortorella's challenge is more severe than most coaches would like to face.
Nevertheless, he has welcomed the assignment and tangible results already are evident.