Torts: Flyers’ Locker Room Needed to Change

Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella likes what he sees so far from his team — on and off the ice.

“I like the feeling of the room,” Tortorella said. “I think the room’s changed. It has changed.

“Kevin [Hayes] is gone, Tony’s [DeAngelo] gone, Provy’s [Ivan Provorov] gone. And really good people. I wish them nothing but great luck with their teams. And they landed on some good teams.”

Tortorella was impressed with how his players reported to the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees well before they were required to. He believes that helps lead to a close team and locker room.

“Our room needed to change,” Tortorella said. “When you subtract people, it allows the room to open up, it allow people to speak. Allow people to show maybe who they are.

“That’s the exciting part for me. You have [Garnet] Hathaway come in — great pro. [Marc Staal] Staalsie comes in — a great pro. Then you watch the room grow.

“That’s what’s exciting to me. We’ve had such a good feeling around here since all of them have come in.”

Rough First Day

Tortorella’s training camps are notoriously difficult. The boys skated and skated some more on Day One Thursday.

“There were some struggles but I thought they finished what they needed to finish,” Tortorella said. “It was our first day of skating as a test. But I was happy with how it went.

“You look at Cam York out there. It was an absolute horror show … After the second rep, and I could tell he was done.

“But I watched Yorkie, he finished every time. I found him right after his route through it [skating drills]. It’s probably the most emotion I’ve seen out of Yorkie. I can’t tell you what he said to me about that test, but he finished.

“That’s the key; that’s building a standard of what you have to do. That’s my thinking. I thought they could handle it.”

————

Coming at 10 a.m.: Sam Carchidi column —  New Flyers TV analyst Brian Boucher thinks Philadelphia could surprise the experts.

Coming at noon: John Tortorella — For prospects, it’s a land of opportunity.

————

Flyers, In Case You Missed It:

Matvei Michkov scored his first two goals this season in KHL including the game-winner.

Going into camp: 3 things I know, 3 things I don’t know.

Healthy Sean Couturier survives first day of Camp Torts.

Around The National Hockey Network:

Boston Hockey Now: Let’s get physical at Bruins’ camp.

Buffalo Hockey Now: Sabres GM: Dahlin, Power deals need to be right from all sides.

Carolina Hockey Now: Three takeaways from Day One of Hurricanes camp.

Chicago Hockey Now: Blackhawks veteran Taylor Hall injured in camp.

Colorado Hockey Now: Wrapping up first day of Avalanche training camp.

Detroit Hockey Now: Notes from opening of Red Wings’ camp.

Florida Hockey Now: Betting odds on Panthers going into camp.

Montreal Hockey Now: Forward Alex Newhook makes great first impression.

Nashville Hockey Now: Which Predators defensemen are on the roster bubble?

New Jersey Hockey Now: Coach Lindy Ruff exercises contract option.

New York Islanders Hockey Now: Key injured players return for training camp.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Expect Jeff Carter to stick around with Penguins.

Washington Hockey Now: Camp notebook from eventful day with Capitals.