Weighing the variables of a John Tortorella reunion

The 36th coach in New York Rangers history will be the most pivotal hiring in the franchise’s existence. Or, perhaps it’s won’t be. “Won’t” as in just not the 36th. Maybe, it’s a name that has already perched behind the Garden bench twice before: John Tortorella.

It’s been the elephant in the room since David Quinn was fired on May 12 and it seems that the idea of a reunion is either exciting or frightening. Fortunately, for Chris Drury, he has his pick of the litter in choosing who will grab the reigns of this sprouting group of talent. There are several premier options to consider aside from Tortorella—namely being Gerard Gallant and Rick Tocchet, both of whom have been interviewed already.

It all comes down to the style that Drury thinks will complement his player personnel best. Experience is obviously a prerequisite. The former Rangers coach has amassed a 673-541-37 record, has won the Jack Adams award twice and the Stanley Cup once as an NHL head coach.

Aside from his one-year stint with the Vancouver Canucks in 2013-14, Tortorella has made noise (both literally and theoretically) at every pit stop in his career. His volatile relationship with the media has become infamous because he wears his emotions on his sleeves and struggles to contain them throughout the ebbs and flows of a hockey season. But while this passion and his tough-love philosophy elicits the best from his players, it always seems to have an expiration date.

Tortorella’s influence on a club is like chewing gum: the flavor is rich and tangy for a while, but eventually wears down into tasteless matter—subsequently being spit out. In other words, there is only so much that players can buy-in until their relationship with him dies out. It happened in Tampa several years after winning the Cup, we just saw it commence with Columbus and we all remember the 2013 playoffs in New York.

So, the question is: does Chris Drury—who played his final games in the NHL for Tortorella—want to take that risk with his young team as these players cross into their prime? Especially when history seems to repeat itself? Or is Tortorella’s shot-in-the-arm presence just what the doctor ordered? Drury knows exactly what to expect in Tortorella’s militant effect on a locker room.

There is no doubt Tortorella can bring the Rangers into the Cup-contention mix sooner than later. He’s masterful in conditioning his players and could take a lineup card of table scraps and find successful chemistry. The 2018-19 Blue Jackets are a testament to his comprehensive coaching intangibles; how does a wild-card squeaker sweep the greatest regular season team (Tampa Bay) in history? A mindset.

You can bet the Rangers would come to play with an edge every night in another Tortorella regime. But is this gritty defensive-minded style the right fit for this offensively-prone team? It’s certainly a gamble to assume the two sides would click, as mistakes from young players are still inevitable and there will—as always—be benchings. And with the fragile progress of the young stars, that could serve detrimental.

The Rangers could have some different toys to play with by October, which could make them a more compatible lineup for Tortorella. However, the core pieces will stay in place, whom emphasize the Rangers skill and speed identity, as opposed to the shot-blocking work-horse grind that Tortorella implements. But maybe that could serve useful?

This team showed zero resilience in critical late-season games against playoff opponents; most namely the five straight losses in the final six games against the Islanders, Capitals and Bruins. Tortorella would take out his whip and “playoff-proof” the Rangers so that embarrassment wouldn’t be endured again. The final question is: would the slashes leave scars?