Torts on comparing himself and AV; St. Louis and Callahan

In his post-practice briefing here in Vancouver today, former Rangers coach John Tortorella said he hasn;t really paid much attention to his former team, given the time difference and with the different conference but offered opinions on comparisons to himself and Vigneault, who is having a more successful season, the Rangers, Martin St. Louis and Ryan Callahan....

Like a hockey trade, is it fair for people to compare what Alain’s doing out there and what you’re doing here?

As far as the records are concerned? I know that comes up. What is fair? You guys are going to make your opinions and talk about it because it’s kind of a unique thing that happened with Alain and I, and I get that. We’re losing games, so I’m the idiot, and he’s winning games, so he’s the smart guy, and rightfully so. When you lose games and you struggle, you’re going to get scrutinized and that’s part of the business. And I should be scrutinized. But how you go about it and what you think about this and that style of play and all that, I think sometimes there’s not a true understanding of what’s going on. But as far as the records concerned, I get that. I have a great deal of respect for Alain, had before he went to New York, I wish him the best. He’s out East, it really doesn’t matter to me…

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On St. Louis:

I don’t know what he’s done as far as stats and I haven’t seen him play, I know it was a bit of a crazy time for him, with what was going on with the Olympics and this and that. He’s a good friend of mine, we had texted a couple times, I haven’t talked to him since the trade was made. But I would venture to guess that when it starts being the real deal, I think he’s going to be a pretty good player for you.

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Does it surprise you to see a Ranger team without Callahan?

It does, yeah, he was my captain. We spent a lot of time together. We played in Tampa, and the uni didn’t look right. I give the team a tremendous amount of credit, that’s a big hole to fill what he brings, not only on the ice but in the room too, but they still found their way, with Marty struggling. It was different; I found when I saw him in the Tampa uniform, it struck me funny.

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On his team's playoff hopes (they have six games left and are five out of the second wild card)

"I don’t know what the arithmetic is, losing the other night puts us in a real precarious spot. This team (the Rangers) is playing very well, we’ll have our hands full…

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On keeping up with how the Rangers are doing:

"One thing that’s different for me is that three-hour change, you don’t have the opportunity. It might be a little different for me, I’m not gonna lie, always when you lead a team and spend five years there, sure you look at some guys. but when it’s east-west, you just kind of block it out."