Torts reformed
So Kreider would ‘love’ Team USA spot
IF THE prospect of an international incident at next year’s World Cup increased exponentially with the selection of John Tortorella as the head coach of Team USA, the converse would seem to be true concerning Chris Kreider’s chances of making the squad.
For when last united (really?), this, after all, is the player whom Tortorella had relegated to the Rangers’ playoff taxi squad during the 2013 first round before No. 20’s emergency insertion into the lineup for the second round against Boston in the wake of several Blueshirts injuries.
But that’s not the way Kreider chooses to evaluate things.
“People might not want to believe it, but Torts and I had a good relationship, we really did,” Kreider told Slap Shots. “I was new to the league, had a lot to learn — I still do — and I got a lot of positive feedback that helped make me a better player.
“It would be a shame if what happened in the past is twisted and comes into play when it comes to picking the team,” said No. 20, who spent chunks of the lockout truncated 201213 season with the Rangers. “I would love to play for Torts on Team USA.”
Brandon Saad and Johnny Gaudreau are both agelimited to the North American Young Guns, so unless the Team USA hierarchy has a change of heart about Bobby Ryan, then Kreider and the Blue Jackets’ Nick Foligno are probably the leading candidates for jobs on the wing among those who didn’t make the 2014 Olympic team. Of course, Ryan might warrant a second look given how the Yanks failed to medal in Sochi after being shut out in their final two games.
On second thought, if Tortorella has significant input into the selection of the roster, and the coach should, then Chris Higgins might emerge as a candidate as a checking wing. Higgins became a Tortorella favorite during their halfseason together in New York before the winger was traded and later was one of the coach’s goto guys (maybe the only one) when they were both in Vancouver in 201314.
Derek Stepan made the 2014 Olympic team as a spare forward, playing in only one of the six tournament matches. You wouldn’t go quite so far as to call Stepan a lock with Tortorella behind the bench, but a spot on the World Cup squad is probably his to lose.
“You always want to be able to represent your country and of course I’d love to play in the World Cup, but my job now is to play Rangers hockey,” said Stepan, who has also played for the U.S. in a World Junior and World Championship. “My focus is on what I need to do for this team.
“I was fortunate enough to be in Sochi as the extra forward and probably not much has changed. I’m probably going to be one of those guys on the bubble fighting for a spot.”
True to a point, but Stepan and the coach were members of a mutual admiration society in New York. Tortorella needs players in the room to spread his gospel.
“It’s no secret that Torts is a big reason I’m here,” Stepan told Slap Shots. “He and Sully [former Ranger assistant Mike Sullivan] put in a lot of work into teaching me how to be a pro.
“When Torts was here, I had success under him. I understand how he wants the game to be played. If I get the chance to play for Torts in the World Cup, I’ll be extremely happy.”
Tortorella and Phil Kessel: Now that should be interesting.
Torey Krug, old enough for Team USA, has got to get a long look on defense.
And Cory Schneider, whose excellence will have to be its own reward playing for the Devils this season, will certainly push incumbent Jonathan Quick for the No. 1 goaltender’s spot.
You know, I kind of like the Islanders’ black alternates.
Also kind of like that the noise emanating from the Islanders at camp has come from JoshHo Sang pounding the steps at the Coliseum — yes, the Coliseum — and not from players pounding their chests or slapping their backs over getting to seven games before losing last year’s first round.
So someone in the new Devils’ hierarchy thought it was clever to play a scoreboard video during Friday’s exhibition game against the Islanders showing that “there is nothing is going on” at Nassau Coliseum.
The Islanders can repay the favor with a video from outside the Rock the second week of April.