Ex-Rangers star reveals the moment he and former head coach John Tortorella almost went at it
Marian Gaborik's career with the New York Rangers was short, albeit full of interesting tales. One of them was with former Head Coach John Tortorella, with whom he butted heads with regularly and had an irregular relationship with.
Marian Gaborik played a total of 255 games in the New York Rangers jersey, after signing a five-year- $3.75 million AAV deal.
He played with the team from the 2009-13 season, and would bring a dynamic style of play, with his skill and speed, which the Rangers were sorely lacking at this point.
During his first year with the Blueshirts, he'd score 42 goals and 86 points. He'd earn his last All-Star nod in 2011-12, scoring 76 points (41-35), and earned MVP honours during the game.
While he was a star for the Rangers, his relationship with John Tortorella could be defined as tumultuous.
Forward Marian Gaborik of the New York Rangers Up and Down relationship with John Tortorella
«Yeah, it was up and down,» Gaborik admitted last week on Spittin' Chiclets. «But he played the top guys a lot. He just tried to squeeze the best out of you that he could.»
The Slovakian forward's smooth, skillful style clashed with Tortorella's hard-nosed style of hockey, which the Rangers played during his tenure. The two would butt heads as a result.
The conflicts would ensue late in the season, as he benched Gaborik during Game 2 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals
«We almost got into a fight,» Gaborik recalled. «I went to block a shot - and I was in a shooting lane. It was going wide, and somebody tipped it in.»
Bryce Salvador's shot was redirected by Ryan Carter and made it past Henrik Lundqvist, which tied the game at 18:09 in the second period. Despite Gaborik's best efforts, the two would clash in the locker room.
«During the intermission, I went to see [athletic trainer Jim Ramsey]. He stretched me out, and 'Torts' storms in and he's saying, 'you've gotta f-ing block the shot.' I was like, 'I was in a shooting lane', and we were this close,» Gaborik said with a smile, pinching his thumb and index finger together.
«And I remember if Mike Rupp wasn't in the training room, I don't know what would've happened. He stepped in between us and kinda got in the way.»
«And I remember if Mike Rupp wasn't in the training room, I don't know what would've happened. He stepped in between us and kinda got in the way.»
This sounds like a typical Tortorella story, where he overreacts and overcorrects players.
Sitting one of your best forwards definitely helped them win that season, didn't it? We've seen him coach himself out of a job in Philadelphia recently after he and Cam York's spat went public, along with his admitting he didn't want to coach a rebuild any longer. His ugly departure from Philadelphia has left a mark on his reputation that could stick.
Tortorella is back broadcasting with ESPN as an analyst, and could do worse considering his legacy of coaching.
He is one of the best American-born coaches in the league, but has only won the Stanley Cup once with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.
The carousel has ended for him, and Gerard Gallant recently.
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 18 | 103 ANSWERS Ex-Rangers star reveals the moment he and former head coach John Tortorella almost went at it Do you think Head Coach John Tortorella, an ex-New York Ranger, was a successful coach here? | ||
| Yes | 75 | 72.8 % |
| No | 28 | 27.2 % |
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