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Practice: Torts Means Business

by Adam Rotter on June 29th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Rangers coach John Tortorella is setting the tone for the upcoming Rangers season early on.

On the first day of prospect development camp, the Rangers coach let loose a few feelings on the season:

“As far as the lines are concerned, as far as the makeup of our team, from Scott Gomez right on down, the only guy I know is gonna be there is Hank. He’s gonna be our starting goalie. But other than that, it’s wide open. And I’m not afraid of youth. It’s going to be done on merit.

Good thing Torts named Lundqvist the starter, I can now sleep at night. But seriously, it is great to hear what he is saying about playing young guys. It follows what he did last season, when someone is playing well they get more ice time, when they don’t play well they sit on the bench.

Torts also discussed the lifestyle’s of the players and the sense of entitlement some of the players have:

“We got two hot meals a day, we got a great practice facility, we got limos flying all over the place, we got New York City, the theaters, I need this, I need that,” he said. “It’s time to put your hand, instead of asking for more, take it away and start getting things done.”

I LOVE this. We have months until the season starts and Torts is already laying down the law. This is his team now, he will be there at the start and he will get to pick and choose who he wants to play on this team, not who he inherited from Renney.
  • jqstave

    This is beyond great. I hope some young guns step up and Torts is true to his word and plays them over some of our slouching veterans. Some of them are already making millions a year. Now they want to be 1st or 2nd line players as well? Without putting in the effort? Nah, I don’t think so. Can’t have your cake and eat it too.