Philadelphia Flyers
Beginning of the End for Tortorella? Coach Raw After Flyers’ Embarrassing Loss
The Flyers were utterly embarrassed Tuesday night after being routed 7-2 by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There was not a whole lot of good to take away from Tuesday’s Flyers loss. They only scored two goals, and the production did not come from anyone new. The defense went missing. Cam York, a player who is supposed to be a defensive cornerstone, got benched, and Sam Ersson played one of his worst games of the year.
The cherry on top? Flyers’ head coach John Tortorella got brutally honest with the media after the game.
Read More: Flyers Embarrassed By Leafs, Lose 7-2
Here is what Tortorella had to say:
“When you’re in this type of situation, you’re losing all of the time, and there is nothing at the end of the tunnel for you; there’s certainly going to be some frustration. This falls on me. I’m not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season where we’re at right now. I have to do a better job. This falls on me; getting the team prepared to play the proper way until we get to the end.”
Analyzing the Comment
Any coach, not just Tortorella, would be a bit emotional after a loss like that. Some of his comments might have been a bit extreme, especially given how the overall season has gone. Addressing the media after a loss like that is difficult.
However, that sure sounds like a coach who is done with losing. I’m sure the losing takes a toll on him, just as it does the players, management, and the rest of the coaching staff. However, you don’t see anybody else saying anything like this.
To me, this seems like the beginning of the end of the John Tortorella bench boss era in Philadelphia. I mean, if this is how he feels about coaching losing hockey, then maybe it’s time to call it. The Flyers may not be done with “this type of season” before Tortorella’s contract expires.
I will give Tortorella credit. He took the blame for the poor play and dropped a bomb by saying he is not interested in learning how to coach “this type of season.” However, he followed it by saying he needs to be better. Maybe this is him saying he needs to be better, so he is not coaching this type of season again. Only Tortorella truly knows what he meant.
It will be interesting to see how Tortorella addresses this comment when he speaks to the media next. It is certainly not something to glance over. Maybe he has his regrets immediately following the comment. Maybe he will address the comments sooner rather than later. However, the fact of the matter is he said it–in front of the media and a broadcast television camera, nonetheless.
To me, unless Daniel Briere turns this team around in one offseason, it does not seem like the team will be away from “this type of season” any time soon. If this is truly how Tortorella feels, maybe this truly is the beginning of the end.
Read More: Three Flyers Thoughts: York Benched, Team Gone Missing & More
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I know a lot of people didn’t like the tortorella hire from the beginning,and haven’t liked it the entire time he’s been here,but no matter if the players like him or not, THEY still have a job to do.I certainly don’t agree with everything he does but it seems when he does that it’s because the player is undisciplined in the defensive end of the ice.Those of us who work a 9 to 5 job if you will have certainly had bosses we don’t like or agree with,but we had to suck it up if we had to keep that job.The flyers haven’t played defense for how many seasons now and that’s the coaches fault, OKAY.
No it is who Torts likes it has nothing to do with discipline! He favors players like Forester who on more than one occasion has taken penalties and cost the Flyers games with undisciplined play yet never got benched! Numerous ex-players and coaches who have traded flyers players have criticized Torts. The flyers need a coach’s! No other NHL coach does what he does we’ll are what 2 points from the bottom that’s going backwards
We are a bad team. We are being passed by teams that were far worse than us, even just recently. We got rid of several of our better players at the last two trade deadlines. That’s not Tortorella’s fault.
The issue is clearly Briere. We have to see something more than just stockpiling future picks or prospects. We need better players that can help us NOW.
If I’d look to the Phantoms and saw them ripping through the AHL, I’d feel differently. But they’re mediocre at best, and I see almost NOBODY down there that will make a difference for the Flyers. Maybe Luchenko (if he’s been assigned there). Maybe the Russian kid that we just got from Toronto. Anyone else is just filling a slot in the AHL and are not future difference-makers
I’ve been a supporter of Briere in the past, but he has to show me something more than what I’ve seen so far. Otherwise, it’s just Hextall 2.0
If the Flyers do win the lottery….trade the pick and move down two or three slots and also then get another first round pick next year from the team they traded the pick for. This draft has no clear number one pick….Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone, Frondell, McQueen….all top three types. That would be a Howie Roseman maneuver..wonder if DB would do that.
Romus – I understand what you’re saying but if this draft has no clear #1, I think it would be difficult to get another team (already in the top three or four) to switch spots and also give up a number 1 for next year.
Then we’d have to tank again next year (or hope the team we trade with remains bad) to get next year’s top pick – and that’s assuming there’s a clear #1 there next year.
All that really does is kick the can down the road, and cements a loser mentality throughout the organization.
I think Danny has to hit on his picks this year, with at least one player who can help out and play on the big team immediately. If he doesn’t do well, I think it’s fair to ask if he needs to go or we need to overhaul the entire scouting department. Or maybe both.
Outside of Michkov, who kind of fell into our laps, and Luchenko, I don’t think the Flyers have done a great job in the draft. Hopefully they prove me wrong.
This team is way more than Torts taking blame. This team has and plays with NO HEART. They’re PP has stunk for years and yes, that’s coaches fault. We still don’t have a #1 goalie, TK was way overpaid, there’s no depth scoring, the D is a JOKE but mind you, when I say D, I’m referring to everyone playing defense! This team STINKS from the front office down!!! And that has been the 1 consistent for years!
They need to let coach go, Couts, maybe a few others but definitely NEED TO BE SHOPPING NOT SELLING for better players. They’re nothing but a house NHL team at this point.
Keyser – You raise many good points.
I wonder how the power play coaches seem to survive year-after-year.
That leads to the question of if Torts leaves (whether by his choice or not) is there a coach on the Flyers bench right now or even at the AHL level that could take his place? If not, why not? We know his time behind the bench is short, no matter what.
I don’t see any coach ANYWHERE in the organization with the ability or even passion to turn the team around. Why hasn’t THAT been addressed by the front office? It’s not just better players we need, we need better coaches with and below Torts as well.
I don’t particularly like the Koneckny contract either, but it was likely a choice of paying what was his market rate at the time or letting him go. He certainly needs to find a way step things up and be more consistent during the WHOLE season.
As for Couturier, I think his contract goes for another thousand years so I doubt he’s going anywhere with what they’re paying him. That said, I’d prefer to watch a prospect get a chance than suffering through another year of watching Coots plod around the ice. At least giving a prospect a chance to learn might help them develop quickly. As it is, I can’t tell if Coots is injured again or just done. Either way, not good.
Which brings us to the leadership question. Who has enough skill and a desire to win to be respected by his teammates, while also having the personal ability to sit down with his teammates and demand better from them? I don’t know that such a player is even on the Flyers roster right now.
They do need to be shopping, and it can’t be for more picks/prospects. They need players that can help NOW.
Can’t disagree Mike and that’s the big problem or shall I say problems with this organization. There’s just so much to attend to on many different facets, where do you begin?
I just watch in dismay from afar again year after year. If I was closer like you, I’d be wasting even more of my money going to some of the games, but I have to ESPN+ them.
On another note, you don’t happen to have one of those Gritty night lights that you might sell do ya?🤣…. my wife is an Avs fan but loves her some Gritty!
So glad when he goes. The day can’t come fast enough! That tough guy stuff got old! See ya!!
They just fired him today!
Just saw these watching Ohio St v Boston U in the playoffs
When was the last time they had “good ” not great #1 center and #1 in the net.