This season was a heartbreak for Rangers fans as the team was cut down in five games by the Boston Bruins after entering the playoffs as the sixth seed -- just one season after it powered its way to the Eastern Conference finals and began as No. 1 in the East.
The organization announced Wednesday, but four days after its loss to the Bruins, that it had fired coach John Tortorella, known for his snarky debacles with the press but perhaps more so for his inconsistent leadership.
Tortorella had one year left on his contract, the New York Times reported. He was also a top contender for a coaching spot for the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team in Sochi, Russia as of February.
He led the team to 171 wins after replacing former coach Tom Renney late in the 2009 season. The Rangers also got 51 wins, its second most of all time in a single regular season, and second in franchise history with 109 points in 2011-12, according to Yahoo News. While acting as the Tampa Bay Lightning's coach, the team won a Stanley Cup in 2004.
Players, fans and reporters, however, criticized the Rangers as dodgy under his leadership, fighting aggressively one season and becoming lambs the next.
During his run, the team made it to the Eastern Conference Final and lost in 2012; fell to the Washington Capitals in the first round of playoffs in 2009 and 2011; missed the playoffs in 2010 and most recently went down in the semis against the Bruins.
While there was never any overt indication that Tortorella would be removed based on his failings this season and postseason, he became tangled in a couple of spats with players, one being former MVP Brad Richards who he benched in Game 4 against the Bruins. The action was largely viewed as an act of disrespect as opposed to a smart coaching decision.
He also received some unwanted attention after the team's star-goaltender and Vezina trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist, who will become a free agent after next season, began speaking publicly about his time with the Rangers in the past tense.
"I'm gonna talk to my agent, and we'll see," Lundqvist said about potential contract talks. "You know, I had such a great time here in New York. From day one they treated me really well and have given me an opportunity to play a lot of hockey. It's been a lot of fun. I have one more year on the contract. I'm just focused on - well, right now, I'm trying to get over this year - but we'll see. I'll talk to my agent and take it from there."
General manager Glen Sather said that Tortorella's replacement remains unknown, Newsday reported.
"There's a lot of factors when you go into looking for someone to develop and help your team and get us to your ultimate goal," he said.
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