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Denis upset, but not at team, over demotion
Marc Denis used words such as "humiliating" and "frustrating" to describe not being allowed to dress for the final game of the regular season and the playoffs.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published April 24, 2007
TAMPA - Marc Denis used words such as "humiliating" and "frustrating" to describe not being allowed to dress for the final game of the regular season and the playoffs. But he acknowledged he blew his chance to retain the Lightning's No. 1 goaltending job. "I was given opportunities to be the guy," he said Monday. "It's no secret I did not like the way things shook down. I'm not being disrespectful by saying that. It was very humiliating. It was frustrating. "But I know better than to argue with a decision that was made in the right frame of mind and for the good of the team. I'm not putting anybody under the spotlight here." Denis, 29, was a major disappointment during the regular season with a 3.19 goals-against average and a league-worst .883 save percentage. "I was disappointed that I didn't meet my own expectations and more disappointed than anything I didn't meet my team's expectations," he said. "That's the one thing that stings the most." "From Day 1 since Marc Denis has been here, he's been a pro," coach John Tortorella said. "Is he unhappy with me? I'm sure he is. ... But I would not change my decisions, what I did there."
[Last modified April 23, 2007, 23:58:23]
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by lovlightning#4#55
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05/13/07 05:06 PM
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i think denis might have been PUSHED to hard by torts for instance look at the way how he played with columbus,i think the lightning should just give him one more chance! I will always love and root 4 denis no matter what team he goes to! I lov light
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by RF
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05/01/07 12:19 PM
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Regardless of his "credentials",Denis was sub-par.Regardless of not winning a Cup EVERY yr,our coach has taken our team 2 the playoffs 4 yrs in a row, while working w/in constrictions placed on him by Feaser&Davidson. Is there 1 person to blame? NO!!
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by Jason
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05/01/07 11:55 AM
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Torts gets in players head-give me a break. If they can't handle Torts how in the world are they gonna make it through the Cup run. I think sitting Habby in last game of 03 playoffs helped him stayed focused in 04. He had a tendency to lose it before
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by Jen
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04/25/07 02:27 PM
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What's wrong with being held accountable??? Everyone wants to bash Torts. He's a great coach. He gives it to you staight. Denis was terrible. He's not a #1 goalie. When you stink, you don't dress. get over it!!
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by John B.
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04/24/07 08:45 PM
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I am tired of everyone bashing Torts. Denis got his chances, Feds got his chances, the reporters ask what went wrong in the game and he tells them straight up. You can't win a cup every year this day and age, but we have had a shot 4 yrs now
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by geoff a.
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04/24/07 07:33 PM
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"d" needs help. "denis" is a solid nhl'er just didnt work with "torts".perrin works his butt off can't finish.look at the ducks "d" and goalers!!bean counters need to get more not get ridid of vinny ,marty or ritchie!!
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by Ron
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04/24/07 05:43 PM
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good point Shane. Only problem is, it's not the same team that won the Cup; half are gone and the system doesn't seem to work with this new crew---80% of whom seem to be journeymen.
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by Trish
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04/24/07 03:59 PM
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Denis came to play. Trouble is he believed the "stuff" Feaster and Tortorella fed him. Personalities and politics-bad combo. He's better off somewhere else-Still, had he overcome his disappointment in himself, we might have been pleasantly surprised.
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by Shane
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04/24/07 01:00 PM
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It's funny how in the face of adversity people complain about the same coach, system and defense that won the '04 Cup. 21,22 and 44 were on both teams. O'Brien and Kuba exceed their replacements. 40 is not 35, but neither was 35 in Chicago.
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by Thomas
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04/24/07 12:24 PM
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Torts has to be evaluated. It may be hard to get past the "he won us the Cup" idea, but its his way or no way. No #1 goalie will play for a guy who will throw you under the bus to save his own job. Modin, Kuby, Habby are some of his casualties.
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by Ben
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04/24/07 11:58 AM
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"Is he unhappy with me? I'm sure he is...."
Are they just copying and pasting here? :)
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by Richard
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04/24/07 11:42 AM
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Even Brodeur would have trouble with this system and defense. Put Denis in NJ and he would be successful.
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by Mike
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04/24/07 11:12 AM
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The point about Torts worming in peoples' heads is valid. He seems like a royal P.I.T.A that evokes lots of anxiety in some players. Not everyone has a thick skin in that regard. Maybe its time Feaster wormed inside Torts head about HIS PERFORMANCE?
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by Don
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04/24/07 11:05 AM
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Mark, please stop whining and face the fact that you stunk but ARE STILL getting paid for it. Where else can you make 5 million in a buyout for doing nothing but sitting on your keester? Mark, get on your hands knees thank your lucky bolts.
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by rod
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04/24/07 09:00 AM
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Everyone, the team, Denis, and the fans, lost on this one. It happens, but it's time to move on. Get the best they can by trading him, or buy him out. Neither side can come back from this situation.
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by Mike
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04/24/07 07:01 AM
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Maybe Denis looked good playing with Columbus because that team was so bad.
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by Horatio
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04/24/07 02:31 AM
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Denis can join many others who have had irreconcilable difficulties with the Bolts' petulant child/coach who worms into the heads of his players - calling them out publicly when they fail and using the first person plural when the team is victorious.
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by Amanda
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04/24/07 12:53 AM
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The frustrating part about this is the talent that Denis has. We've seen it in Colorado and in Columbus. Why didn't it work here? There are theories, but who knows. Though unlikely, I hope he gets another shot. He's much better than we saw this year.
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