New York Rangers: Sean Avery Slams John Tortorella In New Book
UNIONDALE, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Sean Avery #16 of the New York Rangers looks on during warmups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on November 15, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

John Tortorella has had tons of success around the NHL but always seems to wear out his welcome awfully fast. Sean Avery could have the answers as to why.

Former New York Rangers forward Sean Avery has just published his new book, “Ice Capades: A Memoir Of Fast Living and Tough Hockey,” which is set for release on Oct. 24.

He talks about all sorts of things he witnessed and participated in over his 10-year career, including the “sloppy seconds incident,” his short-lived stay with the Dallas Stars and his first stint with and return to the Rangers.

Avery goes in-depth on his much-maligned relationship with former Rangers bench boss John Tortorella. Fans certainly knew the relationship between the two was not a good one, but no one would’ve really guessed how deep this went.

The following excerpt is taken from the book, in which Avery describes the level of respect the players had for Torts.

“Tortorella has a reputation as a hard-ass, but not if you know him as a player. We used to laugh at him all the time. There was always someone in the dressing room who wanted to take their skate and decapitate him or take their stick and whack him over the head with it. Marion Gaborik despised him with every bone in his body. Even Hank Lundqvist, an even-keeled Swede who was usually in his own world, thought Tortorella was a terrible manager of pro athletes. And he can’t skate and stickhandle a puck at the same time, and he doesn’t realize we don’t take him seriously because of that.”

Woah.

Torts had some success with the Rangers, but when the core group of players doesn’t respect their coach, it’s a recipe for disaster. Avery goes on to write about the failure of John Tortorella to help in Derek Boogard’s situation as well as attend Boogard’s funeral.

Courtesy of Yahoo Sports’ Greg Whshynski:

Not a good look for Tortorella. However, we all know there are two sides to every story. Still, it’s hard to ignore some of these things, which is why I find it funny that some think current Rangers coach Alain Vigneault is a joke and that Torts should come back….food for thought.

Neal Purcell has a tremendous passion for New York Rangers hockey and the sport of hockey in general. A graduate of SUNY Cortland in Upstate NY, Purcell coaches both a high school hockey team and a travel team in the winter. Purcell is also a part of a small family business in the Central New York Region.