Fotiu's Answers to Fans' Questions

Complete Fotiu Chat Transcript

feeds@kickapps.com (Dan David) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:59:14 GMT

The complete transcript of Nick Fotiu's interaction with Rangers fans here on iamaranger.com can now be found at:

http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=32299

Thanks to all who participated in the chat.

-- Dan

Thanks to everyone

feeds@kickapps.com (Nick Fotiu) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:39:43 GMT

Thanks for showing your interest today and thanks for being a Rangers fan and a hockey fan. I look forward to doing this again sometime and seeing you at the Garden next season.

Nick

feeds@kickapps.com (zherdevrocks1997) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:34:53 GMT

Who was your greatest on ice competitor throughout your career?
I just was curios because even though the Rangers as a team were great rivals with the Isles, I wanted to know who your biggest head-to-head rival was.

Player aquisition

feeds@kickapps.com (bradyj4) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:20:25 GMT

Mr. Fotiu,

What player or players do would you like to see the Rangers pick up in the offseason so they can take the 2009-2010 season to the next level and hopefully bring a cup back to NY?

John Brady

Training Daily Schedule

feeds@kickapps.com (rickyb) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:16:40 GMT

My dream is to play professionally, so I am always wondering what your training days are like... How often to you work out, how many calories a day, etc.?

Your hardest hit

feeds@kickapps.com (rickyb) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:15:02 GMT

Who nailed you the hardest on the ice?

HARTFORD WOLFPACK

feeds@kickapps.com (wolfpack1551) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:08:25 GMT

hey nick

would you ever want to coach the wolfpack again if you got the chance to?
i think you and ryan mcgill did a good job
my favorite team when you guys coached was the 04-05 team

so if you were offered a coaching job with hartford ...would you take it?

NICK

feeds@kickapps.com (bigbill) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:54:13 GMT

If you were a linemate of Blair Betts and on the ice when Donald Brashear knocked him out of the playoffs a few months back how would you have handled that situation.I know your answer but maybe there are one or two of todays Rangers who will read this and maybe get a hint..........Nick you were one of very few TRUE BLUE RANGERS!

Nick

feeds@kickapps.com (BlueBloodMike89) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:21:13 GMT

Nick based on your experience do you believe there are players out there that you may have played with that had enough talent to play in the NHL but did not get the chance, where overlooked or had other issues that prevented them from making it

Mike N

Fighting in hockey

feeds@kickapps.com (ny28) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:58:27 GMT

Nicky- I play in a mens hockey league and sometimes I get so geeked up that I try to be like you and fight everybody. Needless to say I got banned from the league. Thanks

Throwing pucks

feeds@kickapps.com (Forklift) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:20:12 GMT

Nicky:

I thought your throwing pucks to the fans was one of the greatest things I've ever seen, as far as a player connecting with fans. Are there any players you see now that you feel are superior at connecting with fans?

Thanks for the great memories.

Do you remember?

feeds@kickapps.com (NYRLOU) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:08:24 GMT

Nick, growing up in Long Beach,LI, I was a die hard Ranger fan in Islander territory. You brought us so many memorable times , I can't begin to tell you. One week of my life is still the best thanks to you . I was a student at the Walter Tkazuk hockey camp in the early 80's and you were a guest one of the weeks. I was a goalie and you took the time to not only help me , but you took me to the rink early each day to shoot on me . It was the best time ever. Even today at 41, you are...

Thank you

feeds@kickapps.com (GardenGirl) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:48:42 GMT

Nick - you were always the player of the people, and your showing up here to answer questions shows your continued dedication to Rangers fans. Thank you for all your years on the ice, and especially for showing up early all those times to throw pucks into the crowd.

Do you feel that today's players have as much dedication and team spirit as you did? What keeps you so dedicated to the NYR after all these years? And what would you tell our current Rangers to inspire them about...

N. Fotiu: New York's star

feeds@kickapps.com (SUrangerfanNY89) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:15:07 GMT

Hey Nick,

First let me start off in saying how big a fan I am of you and how you play the game with such grit and passion. And most of all, you being a native New Yorker makes you one of my favorite past-Rangers.

My question is regarding the current or "New" NHL engineered by Gary Bettman. What are your thoughts on how the game has transformed since you played, especially regarding the increase in penalties and "refereeing" done when the game used to...

Hello sir

feeds@kickapps.com (Hit Somebody) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:10:41 GMT

Mr Fotiu, Ive met you several times at various events and its always been a pleasure, your autograph is displayed proudly in my den. Anyway my question is what do feel is the future of the NHL enforcer. It seems some teams are going with more of a middleweight type with the idea he'll be faster and provide more "skill", and are getting away from the heaveyhanded intimidators (I perfer the latter). Do you think that approach is effective? Finally, do you think there is a need...

New player leadership

feeds@kickapps.com (HockeyRef) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:15:10 GMT

What young players on the Rangers team are the best leaders and who specifically could be captain of the team in the near future. Is there a consensus around the organization as to who might eventually get the C on their jersey?

Coaching

feeds@kickapps.com (mmc01) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:59:14 GMT

Mr. Fotiu,
You seem to have a natural teaching ability. It appears that in some ways you were even self taught in many of the skills required to make it to the NHL. You have played for and worked with some of the greatest coaches of the game. Do you see yourself working again with The NYR organization or any other organization for that matter, in a coaching position the near future?
All the best!

A real New Yorker, Nick Fotiu

feeds@kickapps.com (paranger38) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:50:37 GMT

Mr. Fotiu,

A big fan of yours when I was a kid. I loved that you were a fellow New Yorker, your enthusiasm on and off the ice and that you stuck up for your teammates! My question for you is, I always thought you should have been given more ice time , when you were on the ice and it looked like you were about to get involved, many times things seemed to fizzle out. Was it because your opponent thought better of it or, as I have always thought, were you kept under a tight reign by...

WHA vs NHL vs AHL

feeds@kickapps.com (kqqq19) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:56:51 GMT

Hi Nicky,

What was the jump like from WHA to NHL? Was there a big difference in talent?

And seeing as I grew up in New Haven I gotta ask you about your Nighthawk experience. Again, is there a big difference in talent between AHL and NHL? I used to be a bartender and once had customer who was a former pro referee. He had worked both AHL and NHL. He said that in his opinion the AHL was actually faster than the NHL cause the guys are smaller and move quicker. Could this be...

Nick

feeds@kickapps.com (4thehorde) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:46:36 GMT

Do you agree with many Rangers fans that the team needs to focus on building a winner from within via the draft?