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Kevin: Hard-edged Tortorella was born to coach the Philadelphia Flyers |
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It's always difficult to know how a new coach and an NHL team will mesh together. But John Tortorella was born to coach the Flyers.
Since the days of the Broad Street Bullies, Philadelphia fans have wanted their players to be aggressive. Hard-charging. Unrelenting. Flyers tradition and Tortorella belong together. He fits with the Flyers like rough and tumble Mike Ditka was a perfect leader for the Da Bears and Pat Riley and his well-coiffed hair were the ideal coach for the Los Angeles Lakers Showtime offense.
Philadelphia fans will love Tortorella because he will want the Flyers to play like fans want them to play. He wants the Flyers to be aggravating to play against. He wants them to be an annoying presence defensively. He wants them to play as if they are proud to be a Flyer.
What we know about Tortorella is this: Whatever team he is given, regardless of its talent level, he makes the team better because he demands players give him their best effort.
If players are not committed to being full service players, they won't play for Tortorella. It's that simple. It's not about the new offensive and defensive system he will bring to the Flyers. It's about the new attitude he will install.
Not every player appreciates the way Tortorella wants them to play. Some players don't want to block shots or check a player close enough to know what kind of toothpaste he uses. Tortorella is not for everyone.
But I've covered the NHL a very long time and I have interviewed many players who have played for Tortorella. And most players I've interviewed through the years have enjoyed the Tortorella experience. Players don't like to guess what a coach wants from them. Tortorella never makes you guess. You always know how he wants you to play.
Most players like being part of a team that is annoying to play against. They start to take pride in the ability to play high energy hockey.
Who knows how much progress Tortorella can make in terms of wins and losses. That's mostly up to GM Chuck Fletcher's ability to add scoring and repair the defense.
But Tortorella will make this team more competitive. That will happen right away. It's all about accountability. Every coach talks about accountability. But being accountable is the baseline to play on Tortorella's team. Even his top players are expected to play that way.
Ask Winnipeg Jets player Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Tortorella expects all of his players to care deeply about how dedicated the team is to playing the right way, to play Tortorella's way.
"If we want to be who we want to be, an organization that people look at as a standard, yes the culture has to change," Tortorella said.
Tortorella said "culture" is a "cool summertime word" that coaches like to throw around.
"It's really easy to say, really difficult to do," he said. "That's an everyday process."
It's not a coaching style for Tortorella. It's who he is. He said he thinks about it every day. If he thinks something needs to be addressed, he never puts it off until the next day. That's his process. Tuesday's problems are addressed on Tuesday, not on Wednesday, or the next opening in his schedule.
I've known Tortorella a long time and I know Flyers fans. They will respect the way Torts wants to play hockey. He doesn't actually call it culture. He calls it "the standard."
"I want our guys to be proud," Tortorella said. "I want our fans to be proud, how we look, how we present, how we attack the game, how we handle situations in the blue paint, how we stick up for each other in certain situations. That how you get the camaraderie."
Tortorella asks rhetorically: "When Kevin Hayes goes out and blocks a shot, at a huge time in the game, what's that do for your bench?
Torts already knows the answer. It gives the team a big lift. It helps build confidence, swagger and bravado. Tortorella's team usually boast those traits. It's hard to know when the Flyers will contend again. But you can count on this team being more competitive under Tortorella. It won't be like last season. It won't happen overnight, but he will get this team to be a "hard Philadelphia team."
You will see it, but Tortorella will know it first. "You can feel it in the dressing room," Tortorella said.
Tortorella has known for a long time that he was made for Philadelphia.
Let’s first talk about the emblem. As I told Chuck, I look at that emblem. Back in ’04 we were fortunate enough, I was coaching Tampa, we went through Philly to win a Stanley Cup, beating Philly in the Conference Finals. I remember telling my wife and I told Chuck this story, ‘Man, that is a place I would love an opportunity to be in and coach.’ The passion of the people, the building, everything about the city. It was really neat for me. I remember one of my first meetings with Chuck when we started this, he wore a shirt with the emblem and I said, ‘That’s where I want to be.’ ... I couldn’t be more excited being a part of the Philadelphia Flyers. It may sound a little silly, but even when I was coaching other teams, I’ve always thought about that city, I’ve always thought about that team. I would hope to have an opportunity along the way."
Blogger •HHOF Writer's column on the NHL • 
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