Former New York Rangers forward John Scott tells a great John Tortorella and Glen Sather story relating to the 2011-12 NHL season.
Former NHL tough guy John Scott played a total of six games for the New York Rangers. He was acquired near the end of the 2011-12 NHL season from the Chicago Blackhawks and filled in for a few tough guys down the stretch.
Today, Scott, retired, runs his own podcast. Hilariously, he filled his audience in on John Tortorella and Glen Sather stories that should entertain any hockey fan.
Scott’s first impression of New York was Sather, who told the newest Ranger how happy he was to have the “toughest S.O.B. in hockey” on his club while chewing on an unlit cigar.
Jumbo texted me the other day to let me know what he told Reaves. Can you guess what he said?
Check out the latest podcast episode to find out??https://t.co/0xVDA6PVeV
— John Scott (@johnscott_32) April 20, 2019
Then came John Tortorella who asked Scott, “What the hell are you doing here?” Sather didn’t even tell his head coach about the acquisition. Later, Scott describes what a madman Tortorella is when working out and just how horrible a skater he actually is as a head coach.
The capper came in a game against the New Jersey Devils. Up against Cam Janssen and Eric Boulton, Tortorella was literally looking to get a fight started for Scott. The man was inciting violence from the bench.
Additionally, Scott revealed Tortorella’s hatred for the offensive-minded Marian Gaborik. The two would battle during every film session and the divisiveness grew when Gaborik couldn’t execute the defensive-minded aspects Tortorella constantly preached.
Finally, in the playoffs, Scott revealed a Tortorella story that tops them all. The former Ranger coach bluntly told the tough guy that he wouldn’t be skating with the team anymore. Instead, he’d be working with the black aces (the extras carried in the playoffs).
Scott and Tortorella later verbally destroyed each other in the office after the direction was provided and when the season was over, despite Sather’s interest in re-signing the big man, he didn’t return due to Tortorella’s presence.
Scott also shared that veterans such as Ryan Callahan and others eventually tuned Tortorella out after years of maniacal yelling and screaming.
Ladies and gents, that’s just another couple months in John Tortorella’s world. In 2019, his Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off a historic sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning while waiting for their next opponent.
