Tortorella wants ‘someone to take over the power play’

Some people are reading between the lines that New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella would like the team to make a big trade.

ESPN’s Katie Strang passed along this intriguing Torts quote from Thursday:

“I still need someone to take over the power play and run it,” Tortorella said.

Strang then noted that the fiery head coach “didn’t sound convinced” that the right guy was on the Rangers’ roster or in the system. If the rumblings are true, it could end up being a blueliner who worked with Torts during his Stanley Cup-winning run with the Tampa Bay Lightning: Dan Boyle.

The 36-year-old offensive defenseman wouldn’t necessarily be seen as a “rental,” according to Strang.

Boyle is not a rental, either, but a source indicated to ESPNNewYork.com that the Rangers are not opposed to adding a player with years remaining on his contract if he’s a good fit. Boyle, who previously played under coach John Tortorella in Tampa, has one year remaining after this season on a six-year, $40 million deal that comes with an annual cap hit of $6.66 million.

While Boyle’s contract might not represent too steep of an asking price, Strang reports that the Sharks might want too much back in the form of young talent.

We’ll see what happens, but if Strang’s hints and Torts’ quotes are any indication, the Rangers are at least looking to make another splashy move as the trade deadline approaches.