Speaking to reporters prior to game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in Pittsburgh tonight, John Tortorella discussed the matchup, his relationship with Pens coach Mike Sullivan and and his roster.
Tortorella on his relationship with Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan:
“I'll answer the question one time. I think Sully has been very honest about our relationship. I think I have been very honest with our relatioship. Working six or seven years together through some good times, and quite honestly, when you become even closer through adversity. We were together quite a bit in both of those types of situations.
“I've learned a ton from him. I have to admit, when we were out last year, I was living through him as he was going on his run. I think there's a lot to be said for what that guy did. After being fired, he was willing to go and try to get back to the National Hockey League the hard way.
“Having said that, I'm done talking about it. This is it. I'm done. And I know he feels the same way. We'll have a beer over the summer. We'll talk again then.”
Tortorella on Lukas Sedlak's injury:
“That's a big blow to us. I'll be honest with you. Because he just solidified our four-line rotation. No one talks about him – I'm thrilled where he's come to. Watching him in the Calder Cup last year and where he is now... we're going to miss him. But I start thinking ahead of what he's going to be and he's going to be a very important player in this organization.
“So, we'll miss him. I'm not sure if he'll get in the series – we'll see how it goes.”
Tortorella on Brandon Saad's playoff pedigree:
"Saader has a couple of rings in his pocket, has played in his prior team with some pretty good people. An organization that knows how to win, he needs to give some of that back to us. He was being tutored by a Hossa, a Keith, a Toews. He needs to be that guy for us. Not lying in the weeds but he needs to be that guy for us with some of our youth.
"But remember, he's 23. You've gotta be really careful with how you go about this business. I think it's been, for a number of our guys this past couple of weeks, I don't think his (Saad) game has been dead on. I just sense and I've seen it, he can raise his level. It's going to be very important to us if we're going to compete in this series."
Tortorella on his previous comments about the Penguins "whining enough for the whole league":
"You know what, I don't spend too much time thinking about the other team. I think we've, as I said earlier, it's not about really giving our player too much information about the other team. It's about us executing what we are and that's how we'll go about our business here."
