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Report: ‘multiple players’ pushed for Tortorella firing

New York Rangers v Boston Bruins

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 19: Head coach John Tortorella of the New York Rangers coaches his teams during the season opener game against the Boston Bruins on January 19, 2013 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

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Yesterday on a conference call with reporters, Rangers general manager Glen Sather admitted his explanation for firing head coach John Tortorella may seem “a little vague.”

Today, we wonder if Sather had good reason to avoid getting into specifics.

According to a Daily News source, “multiple players,” including some “top guys,” pushed for Tortorella’s dismissal after the Rangers were eliminated by the Bruins.

Presumably, the lobbying occurred in the players’ exit interviews.

The report didn’t specify which players wanted the combative coach gone, but it does make one wonder if Sean Avery was on to something back in March when the former Ranger tweeted, “Fire this CLOWN, his players hate him and wont play for his BS.”

It also may lend credence to the report by Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman that goalie Henrik Lundqvist’s noncommittal response to a question about re-signing in New York was a factor in Tortorella’s firing.

Frankly, it’s not hard to come up with players that may have had a problem with Tortorella. Brad Richards for getting scratched in Games 4 and 5 of the Boston series. Carl Hagelin for hearing over and over that he “stinks” on the power play. The list goes on and on.

“Every coach has a shelf life,” Sather said.

Related: What they’re saying about the Tortorella firing