nccanes
07-02-2003, 04:46 PM
From the Tampa Tribune:
Relationship Turns Icy
MARTIN FENNELLY
Published: Jul 3, 2003
Move over, Gruden-McKay.
Lightning coach John Tortorella is seething at management. Management, including GM Jay Feaster, is seething right back.
What happened to The Little Team That Could?
It's icy. It's ugly. It's an issue. It's the last thing the Lightning needed after a breakthrough season. They should be celebrating. They should be capitalizing. They should be moving forward. This feels like reverse.
The coach of the year finalist is at odds with his employer, and we wonder if the employer will unemploy him if he keeps it up.
It's about free agent Vinny Prospal, who has begun testing the market. It's about a commitment to the future; Tortorella thinks the team needs to step up. Speaking of which, he thinks he and his staff deserved contract extensions beyond their one-year deals through next season.
Management is ``frustrated'' (read: angry) that Tortorella has gone public. Does he want to move on? What about rumors of interest from other teams? Does Channelside Drive have a renegade coach on its hands?
``Absolutely not,'' Tortorella said.
But Bolt yourself in.
``I wasn't asking for a home run for me or my staff. All I was asking for was that we be treated with some decency. And I don't think that's been done.''<
A Change In Attitude
First things first. Tortorella wants Prospal signed. He wants this Vinny, tied for the team lead in scoring last season, back on a line with the other Vinny. Tortorella wonders aloud - very aloud - at the message that would be sent by anything less.
``I'm concerned about the subtle change in mental attitude as far as what we're doing as a club,'' he said. ``This Prospal situation is dangerous in the other players' minds ... this is a very dangerous situation minus Vinny.''
This is the last thing Feaster wanted to hear out of his coach's mouth.
``I'm disappointed in the way John has gone about this,'' Feaster said.
So much for the united front.
The head hockey coach is all but challenging owner Bill Davidson to stick to a long-standing promise to step up when this team turns the corner on the ice.
Most points in team history. The first playoff series win.
Seems like the corner to us.
Some Channelsiders think this has more to do with Tortorella's inability to get contract extensions for himself and his staff. Tortorella says he and his staff feel ``disrespected.'' After the season, he requested an extension but was turned down. Tortorella says he asked Feaster for a window to explore options with other NHL teams, but the request was denied. Feaster says no team has contacted him about Tortorella, who will earn $500,000 next season. Tortorella now says he doesn't want an extension.
``I just want to coach this team.''
Feaster spoke to a stark reality of this situation as it relates to Davidson's Detroit Pistons, who recently fired Coach Rick Carlisle, eating a contract, before hiring Larry Brown for $25 million over five seasons.
Smiling to remove the sting, Feaster said, ``One big way it's different is that Mr. Davidson, at the end of the basketball season, is actually able to deposit money into his checking account, as opposed to at the end of the hockey season, writing a check.''<
Forward, Not Backward
Of course, Tortorella deserves an extension. Hey, so does Feaster after last season. They worked well together. They made a winner. Remember?
Should Tortorella, after the best year in Lightning history, really have to go into this season worrying about security?
The Lightning finally have stood up on two legs. Prospal was a big part of that. So was Tortorella. There was always that promise to step in when the time is right.
Well, the time is right.
Captain Dave Andreychuk will be back. The Lightning picked up Cory Stillman from St. Louis in a trade. A nice deal, but it will take more. Stillman isn't Prospal. Don't add, then subtract. This off- season, this team can't have its feet firmly planted on the bottom line.
As for infighting, maybe it will be long gone by training camp. Tortorella could use the contact. He's like Jon Gruden, a bull in the front office china shop. The Lightning like things just right for public viewing. Tortorella won't play that game.
Lightning president Ron Campbell will sit down today with Feaster and Tortorella.
``There's damage, but it's repairable,'' Campbell said.
``I absolutely want to coach this hockey team,'' Tortorella said.
``John is a professional,'' Feaster said. ``I have no concerns.''
Feaster smiled and added, ``[Andreychuk] re-upping tells us Andy doesn't think this is an issue. He certainly didn't come back to be in-house ringmaster for a three- ring circus.''
I still hear a calliope.
Relationship Turns Icy
MARTIN FENNELLY
Published: Jul 3, 2003
Move over, Gruden-McKay.
Lightning coach John Tortorella is seething at management. Management, including GM Jay Feaster, is seething right back.
What happened to The Little Team That Could?
It's icy. It's ugly. It's an issue. It's the last thing the Lightning needed after a breakthrough season. They should be celebrating. They should be capitalizing. They should be moving forward. This feels like reverse.
The coach of the year finalist is at odds with his employer, and we wonder if the employer will unemploy him if he keeps it up.
It's about free agent Vinny Prospal, who has begun testing the market. It's about a commitment to the future; Tortorella thinks the team needs to step up. Speaking of which, he thinks he and his staff deserved contract extensions beyond their one-year deals through next season.
Management is ``frustrated'' (read: angry) that Tortorella has gone public. Does he want to move on? What about rumors of interest from other teams? Does Channelside Drive have a renegade coach on its hands?
``Absolutely not,'' Tortorella said.
But Bolt yourself in.
``I wasn't asking for a home run for me or my staff. All I was asking for was that we be treated with some decency. And I don't think that's been done.''<
A Change In Attitude
First things first. Tortorella wants Prospal signed. He wants this Vinny, tied for the team lead in scoring last season, back on a line with the other Vinny. Tortorella wonders aloud - very aloud - at the message that would be sent by anything less.
``I'm concerned about the subtle change in mental attitude as far as what we're doing as a club,'' he said. ``This Prospal situation is dangerous in the other players' minds ... this is a very dangerous situation minus Vinny.''
This is the last thing Feaster wanted to hear out of his coach's mouth.
``I'm disappointed in the way John has gone about this,'' Feaster said.
So much for the united front.
The head hockey coach is all but challenging owner Bill Davidson to stick to a long-standing promise to step up when this team turns the corner on the ice.
Most points in team history. The first playoff series win.
Seems like the corner to us.
Some Channelsiders think this has more to do with Tortorella's inability to get contract extensions for himself and his staff. Tortorella says he and his staff feel ``disrespected.'' After the season, he requested an extension but was turned down. Tortorella says he asked Feaster for a window to explore options with other NHL teams, but the request was denied. Feaster says no team has contacted him about Tortorella, who will earn $500,000 next season. Tortorella now says he doesn't want an extension.
``I just want to coach this team.''
Feaster spoke to a stark reality of this situation as it relates to Davidson's Detroit Pistons, who recently fired Coach Rick Carlisle, eating a contract, before hiring Larry Brown for $25 million over five seasons.
Smiling to remove the sting, Feaster said, ``One big way it's different is that Mr. Davidson, at the end of the basketball season, is actually able to deposit money into his checking account, as opposed to at the end of the hockey season, writing a check.''<
Forward, Not Backward
Of course, Tortorella deserves an extension. Hey, so does Feaster after last season. They worked well together. They made a winner. Remember?
Should Tortorella, after the best year in Lightning history, really have to go into this season worrying about security?
The Lightning finally have stood up on two legs. Prospal was a big part of that. So was Tortorella. There was always that promise to step in when the time is right.
Well, the time is right.
Captain Dave Andreychuk will be back. The Lightning picked up Cory Stillman from St. Louis in a trade. A nice deal, but it will take more. Stillman isn't Prospal. Don't add, then subtract. This off- season, this team can't have its feet firmly planted on the bottom line.
As for infighting, maybe it will be long gone by training camp. Tortorella could use the contact. He's like Jon Gruden, a bull in the front office china shop. The Lightning like things just right for public viewing. Tortorella won't play that game.
Lightning president Ron Campbell will sit down today with Feaster and Tortorella.
``There's damage, but it's repairable,'' Campbell said.
``I absolutely want to coach this hockey team,'' Tortorella said.
``John is a professional,'' Feaster said. ``I have no concerns.''
Feaster smiled and added, ``[Andreychuk] re-upping tells us Andy doesn't think this is an issue. He certainly didn't come back to be in-house ringmaster for a three- ring circus.''
I still hear a calliope.