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Flyers’ Tortorella Delivers Fiery Message to Public: ‘We’re here; face it’

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John Tortorella

Lots of questions have been asked of the Philadelphia Flyers over the last few weeks.



The Flyers are 5-7-4 since March 1 and 0-3-2 in their last five games. They’re still very much in the playoff race and are still holding onto a spot, but this five-game skid has started to send things spiraling out of control.

As the Flyers’ head coach, it all eventually comes back to John Tortorella to stem the tide. On Wednesday afternoon, the grizzly vet delivered yet another one of his iconic press conferences, sending a fiery message to the public, and perhaps to his team, too.

“It follows me around, and so be it. If a player is going to quit on me, or players or going to quit on me because I’m trying to make them better people and better athletes, you’ve got the wrong damn coach here, and you’ve got the wrong damn people here,” Tortorella began.

“My job is, I’m going to push athletes. . . I was in control the other night. What I said I meant. And, quite honestly, when I watch the tape now, I’m more concerned than just the second period. Because of, I’m so proud of the team getting here.

“And I guess now that narrative out there is, because I’ve heard from other people, is that they’re young, they’re not supposed to be here… bullshit! We’re here! We’re here; face it!”

The Flyers’ modus operandi all season has been to be the team that always gives 110%, even if they don’t have another gear to reach beyond that. They are a rebuilding team whose ceiling, in terms of on-ice performance, is capped by their overall talent.

Despite all of that, the Flyers are still miles ahead of teams like New Jersey and Pittsburgh, and they don’t have Erik Karlsson, Sidney Crosby, Jack Hughes, or Nico Hischier.

What the Flyers lack in talent, they make up for in heart. That starts with coach Tortorella, even if it hasn’t been apparent on the ice in the last two weeks.

“I don’t think we’re ready to be better, and that’s my problem with us right now,” Tortorella concluded. “And it is my job. I have not done a good enough job to get them over the hump after playing those seven games. I haven’t done a good enough job to make them understand we have to be different now. We have to be at a different level.

“That’s my frustration with me, and that’s my frustration with the team. If people can’t handle it, so be it.”

If that can’t help the Flyers turn the heat up for the last six games of the season, maybe nothing will. Their first chance to prove their playoff mettle to Tortorella will be this weekend, starting with a crucial back-to-back against Buffalo and Columbus.

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Butch

If I fart but nobody heard or smelled it, did I really fart?

Barry Leibowitz

Jonathan, after reading these comments from Torts, it appears, as usual, he has a method to his madness. The fact that he is. Laying himself too is the sign of a good leader looking yet again for buying. Your thoughts?

Barry Leibowitz

“Blaming himself “

Not Offsides

I see a different Tortorella now compared to how I remember he was in his comments about the team last season and early this year. He used to be encouraging and understanding that it was a young team that is still growing and developing, and that the team is building for the future. He could be patient, constructive, affirming, and not too critical.

The team playing above expectations and in playoff contention this late in the season caused something to change. It became expected that they should make the playoffs, and pressure likely came from Comcast to make the post-season because the corporation wants the playoff revenue. Suddenly, Torts became harsh and critical in his comments, benched his captain to send a message to the entire team, and called them all out in his post-game press conference after the Montreal game.

At the start of the season, I posted that a record of 38-32-12 would be an acceptable positive for this rebuilding team. That would not put them in a playoff spot but would indicate improvement and growth that most fans would be happy with. Now, the big picture of the steady rebuild has been lost amid the desire to make the playoffs. Why? The team is not good enough to contend for the Cup; if they were to make the playoffs, they likely would get bounced in the first round. Continuing to play the youngsters, building on the positives as they develop, and accepting that they are not quite there yet should remain the team’s approach. If they happen to make the playoffs, great. If not, in the larger scheme of things, that should be ok, too.

Not Offsides

I said Montreal game above, I meant the Islanders game.

Malikai71

Good post, I don’t think I would change anything. Yeah, I would also like the Attard Ginning pairing to continue the rest of the season, not happening now. Also, Brink will probably continue to get scratched mostly?! Always, next year again for the young guys on the outer edges trying to get enough playing time.

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