John Tortorella Fired As Ranger Coach

After four and a half years as the coach of the New York Rangers John Tortorella has been let go and is now looking for a new job. In his time as Rangers head coach, Torts finished with a record of 171-115-29 in 315 games. In those years the Rangers made the playoffs four times, but never made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Tortorella, hired to replace Tom Renney with 21 games remaining in the 2008-09 season, achieved some success with the Rangers but couldn’t match the Stanley Cup title he earned in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now according to reports there was another factor leading to him getting fired from New York. A source told the New York Daily News that “multiple players” and some “top guys” wanted the coach gone. According to the New York Post, “Sather had no intention of dismissing Tortorella … until a critical mass of players informed the GM that the coach’s overbearing personality had become a roadblock to success.”

Now don't get me wrong there were a few other factors that could have been factored in to him getting fired. Not winning a Stanley Cup for one thing is a factor. Also struggling in the playoffs, a lack luster powerplay last season. We all know he has a fiery personality, and that has been put on display more than once, both behind the bench and during some of his postgame interviews. That may have been a factor as to why he hung around as long as he did as the coach. But in the minds of some the negatives outweigh the positives and he is out of a job.

What surprises me is that he had a lack of backing from his players. The players were the ones who wanted him gone. I think you could somewhat start to see it that the Rangers players somewhat gave up listening to him during the 2nd round loss to the Bruins. I don't care how good of a coach you are, if the players on you're team aren't listening to you and aren't supporting you, then you will not be a success and quickly out of a job. Tortorella is the career leader in wins by a U.S.-born coach with 410. He was an assistant coach with the Rangers in the 1999-2000 season and took over for John Muckler as head coach for the final four games. Tortorella was then hired by the Lightning and he was their coach for seven seasons, going 239-222-36-38 and earning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in the championship season.

A replacement wasn’t named immediately, but Sather hopes to have a new coach in place by the NHL draft on June 30. So now this leads to the debate as to who is going to take over as the new coach of the Rangers. Former NHL coaches Lindy Ruff and Alain Vigneault could be candidates. Sather wouldn’t speculate on them or whether anyone currently employed by the Rangers would be considered. Also there have been rumors running around like crazy that former Rangers players like Mark Messier and Adam Graves could also be considered as the possible new head coach. Sorry but as I mentioned in the post yesterday, it isn't always the case that former players become good coaches. So I can't really see either Messier or Graves being the answer. Lindy Ruff from what I can tell would be the best fit for the Rangers as the new bench boss.

Will there be a right answer for the Rangers problems? Only time will tell!