Been asked. Torts' response was "He'll play when I decide to put him back in." The GM does not comment on lineups.
- bmeltzer

Stellar player development

Did anyone ask the follow-up about why he hasn't played? Is it good for a young player to not play when there is an option for him to get playing time? If I was asking the questions I would not have been satisfied with the answer given and I would "report" to the fans that same message

I get the sense that management was/is intrigued by the player's pedigree and shot, and Torts really wasn't enthralled from the get go but dressed him the first three games and then the last two -- while waiting for Brown to get cleared -- because Allison was out.
- bmeltzer

No problem them claiming him as he is the type you take a shot with, classic needs change of scenery.

What I do have a problem with is the GM not talking to the coach about it. Rudderless organization.

Beantown is a racist term, change it
- penguininnevada

Please explain as I thought it was called beantown because of the amount of beans the town use to eat and serve.

Stellar player development

Did anyone ask the follow-up about why he hasn't played? Is it good for a young player to not play when there is an option for him to get playing time? If I was asking the questions I would not have been satisfied with the answer given and I would "report" to the fans that same message
- corduroy

The "why" wasn't asked. But if Torts had any intention of explaining further, he'd have expanded on the subject when asked the "when can we expect him to play" question.

I think there is a bit of internal tension at present about how little usage/TOI some of the younger players have gotten. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Who knows?

Torts has been cutting off ice time/ roster move questions -- for example, saying he's not going to discuss Laczynski when asked (by Giana, I believe) about what he needs to do to get back up to the NHL roster -- for the last week or so.

The "why" wasn't asked. But if Torts had any intention of explaining further, he'd have expanded on the subject when asked the "when can we expect him to play" question.

I think there is a bit of internal tension at present about how little usage/TOI some of the younger players have gotten. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Who knows?

Torts has been cutting off ice time/ roster move questions -- for example, saying he's not going to discuss Laczynski when asked (by Giana, I believe) about what he needs to do to get back up to the NHL roster -- for the last week or so.
- bmeltzer

Fans are frustrated by the stonewalling and it would seem that those who have access could ask the questions and report that they are being denied answers

Has anyone asked him to explain how his comment "the kids are going to play" does not seem to be even close to being true?

Been asked. Torts' response was "He'll play when I decide to put him back in." The GM does not comment on lineups.
- bmeltzer

Thanks.

Boy, what a mess. At some point the GM will need to send Zamula down so he can actually play hockey. Connauton or Belpedio can replace him on the Flyers roster.

The "why" wasn't asked. But if Torts had any intention of explaining further, he'd have expanded on the subject when asked the "when can we expect him to play" question.

I think there is a bit of internal tension at present about how little usage/TOI some of the younger players have gotten. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Who knows?

Torts has been cutting off ice time/ roster move questions -- for example, saying he's not going to discuss Laczynski when asked (by Giana, I believe) about what he needs to do to get back up to the NHL roster -- for the last week or so.
- bmeltzer

Torts is an arrogant, spiteful, stubborn coach. He will be like you didn’t talk to me about it. Well guess what he won’t play. In terms of Bellows.

He is such a pseudo fake tough guy

Torts has been cutting off ice time/ roster move questions -- for example, saying he's not going to discuss Laczynski when asked (by Giana, I believe) about what he needs to do to get back up to the NHL roster -- for the last week or so.
- bmeltzer

What's your opinion on Torts giving one-word/flippant answers to serious lineup questions? I don't see many of you pushing back on that.

And all the latest video pressers have had only one lady asking all the questions. Is that Giana?

Fans are frustrated by the stonewalling and it would seem that those who have access could ask the questions and report that they are being denied answers

Has anyone asked him to explain how his comment "the kids are going to play" does not seem to be even close to being true?
- corduroy

Everyone under 40 is a "kid" when you're 64.

What's your opinion on Torts giving one-word/flippant answers to serious lineup questions? I don't see many of you pushing back on that.

And all the latest video pressers have had only one lady asking all the questions. Is that Giana?
- Tomahawk

Yes. She and Olivia are the only ones who've traveled to recent games. Charlie is there tonight.

If I do road coverage in person, I either have to pay the associated costs out of pocket or get the expenses approved up the chain if they are reimbursed. In-person road game coverage as assigned by my supervisor in the communications dept hasn't been in my contractul arrangement since the pandemic. Would gladly do it if asked.

Yes. She and Olivia are the only ones who've traveled to recent games. Charlie is there tonight.

If I do road coverage in person, I either have to pay the associated costs out of pocket or get the expenses approved up the chain if they are reimbursed. In-person road game coverage as assigned by my supervisor in the communications dept hasn't been in my contractul arrangement since the pandemic. Would gladly do it if asked.
- bmeltzer

Does Jordan Hall cover away games?

Yes. She and Olivia are the only ones who've traveled to recent games. Charlie is there tonight.

If I do road coverage in person, I either have to pay the associated costs out of pocket or get the expenses approved up the chain if they are reimbursed. In-person road game coverage as assigned by my supervisor in the communications dept hasn't been in my contractul arrangement since the pandemic. Would gladly do it if asked.
- bmeltzer

Thanks for that. I hope you do get to go back on the road again soon.

Giana seems to have a good feel for what questions she can get Torts to expound on. Interviewing him must feel like trying to dance thru a mine field.

Fans are frustrated by the stonewalling and it would seem that those who have access could ask the questions and report that they are being denied answers

Has anyone asked him to explain how his comment "the kids are going to play" does not seem to be even close to being true?
- corduroy

I don't think that public whining about asking a certain question and not getting a satisfactory answer is constructive. Most of the media availabilities are either shown live on Twitter and/or uploaded to Youtube, anyway.

Torts did say after the first time Zamula sat that he thinks Zamula has a bright future, that practicing with the team is valuable experience in its own right, etc. but that he couldn't guarantee ahead of time which/how many games he wouldn't or wouldn't play. That was before the recent string of being scratched but also before a couple of noticeably rough games.

It's a fair question, though.

Does Jordan Hall cover away games?
- corduroy

Jordan does some away coverage, too. I don't know what NBCSP's digital budget for road travel looks like this year. Remember, a year ago, the TV broadcasters were off the road until midseason.

I don't think that public whining about asking a certain question and not getting a satisfactory answer is constructive. Most of the media availabilities are either shown live on Twitter and/or uploaded to Youtube, anyway.

Torts did say after the first time Zamula sat that he thinks Zamula has a bright future, that practicing with the team is valuable experience in its own right, etc. but that he couldn't guarantee ahead of time which/how many games he wouldn't or wouldn't play. That was before the recent string of being scratched but also before a couple of noticeably rough games.

It's a fair question, though.
- bmeltzer

Will Frost be on this roster come Xmas time do you think?

Do you see Attard and/or York being called up before 12/31?

I don't think that public whining about asking a certain question and not getting a satisfactory answer is constructive. Most of the media availabilities are either shown live on Twitter and/or uploaded to Youtube, anyway.

Torts did say after the first time Zamula sat that he thinks Zamula has a bright future, that practicing with the team is valuable experience in its own right, etc. but that he couldn't guarantee ahead of time which/how many games he wouldn't or wouldn't play. That was before the recent string of being scratched but also before a couple of noticeably rough games.

It's a fair question, though.
- bmeltzer

I would not think that asking follow-up questions would be "whining". Fans are upset and have been told one thing by the coach and management and then they do the complete opposite - I would think those would be fair questions to ask - I also would not consider not being satisfied with an answer and asking a follow-up to be considered "whining" either.

Jordan does some away coverage, too. I don't know what NBCSP's digital budget for road travel looks like this year. Remember, a year ago, the TV broadcasters were off the road until midseason.
- bmeltzer

I am sure that they arent allowed to ask serious questions anyways

Lotta wannabe GM's and reporters in this group.

Thanks for that. I hope you do get to go back on the road again soon.

Giana seems to have a good feel for what questions she can get Torts to expound on. Interviewing him must feel like trying to dance thru a mine field.
- Tomahawk

Pretty funny way to put it

Yes, thanks Bill for all the great insights into the media coverage.

From a fan perspective, it feels like such a holding pattern. It’s frustrating.

Patrick Brown has been activated off IR. He will start at RW4. Kieffer Bellows exits the lineup again.
- bmeltzer

Outstanding. We need another vet part time scrub to add to the depth of the team in that role.

McEwen
Brown
Deslauriers
Sedlak (He's the best)

Flyers have four players in the lineup who should at best be the 13th forward on the roster.

Beantown. refers to the regional dish of Boston baked beans. In colonial days, a favorite Boston food was beans slow-baked in molasses.

Thanks for that. I hope you do get to go back on the road again soon.

Giana seems to have a good feel for what questions she can get Torts to expound on. Interviewing him must feel like trying to dance thru a mine field.
- Tomahawk

Torts is smart enough to not really go off on her like he might have done to some old white guy years ago. It would not be a good look.

Thanks for that. I hope you do get to go back on the road again soon.

Giana seems to have a good feel for what questions she can get Torts to expound on. Interviewing him must feel like trying to dance thru a mine field.
- Tomahawk

If you catch Torts in the right mood/ right day, he can be very expansive with little prompting. Give him an open ended question, and he'll give a thorough answer from all the angles.

Wrong mood or wrongly worded question -- negatively worded, circling back after a question was dismissed, simply not in the mood to talk -- will not yield anything productive. Rule Number 1 is that Torts can negatively critique a player but he's going to get his back up if given a negatively worded question. Keep it open ended.

If Torts is set off, the rest of the media availability usually becomes a series of one word to one sentence answers. That's why pregame availability on Saturday before the Ottawa game ran a total of 65 seconds. Torts didn't speak before Sunday's game against Dallas.

Sam Carchidi had every right to ask Torts about leaving without speaking following the game in Columbus last Thursday. Torts had the right to answer with a basic no comment. On one hand, snarling "None of your business" predictably triggered a PHWA complaint to the NHL. On the flip side, it also wasn't hard to predict that starting the presser with asking about Thursday would torpedo the rest of the session. Once Torts goes off, he rarely shifts gears back to "expansive/ collegial" mode.

It is what it is. Mike Yeo is exceedingly easy to deal with. AV would turn on the charm to say what we wanted to say for as long as he wanted to say it, then would want to end it ASAP. Gordo was great with the Flyers press. Hak was always guarded. Chief was right-to-the-point and serially honest but also had a great sense of humor on an average day. Lavy wasn't much for joking around and had his fair game and off-limits questions but would provide just enough.

Torts is, well, Torts. He really isn't a bad person -- at all -- but he can very easy or very difficult, and he sets the rules of engagement daily.

Outstanding. We need another vet part time scrub to add to the depth of the team in that role.

McEwen
Brown
Deslauriers
Sedlak (He's the best)

Flyers have four players in the lineup who should at best be the 13th forward on the roster.
- MJL

Decisions, decisions…

If you catch Torts in the right mood/ right day, he can be very expansive with little prompting. Give him an open ended question, and he'll give a thorough answer from all the angles.

Wrong mood or wrongly worded question -- negatively worded, circling back after a question was dismissed, simply not in the mood to talk -- will not yield anything productive. Rule Number 1 is that Torts can negatively critique a player but he's going to get his back up if given a negatively worded question. Keep it open ended.

If Torts is set off, the rest of the media availability usually becomes a series of one word to one sentence answers. That's why pregame availability on Saturday before the Ottawa game ran a total of 65 seconds. Torts didn't speak before Sunday's game against Dallas.

Sam Carchidi had every right to ask Torts about leaving without speaking following the game in Columbus last Thursday. Torts had the right to answer with a basic no comment. On one hand, snarling "None of your business" predictably triggered a PHWA complaint to the NHL. On the flip side, it also wasn't hard to predict that starting the presser with asking about Thursday would torpedo the rest of the session. Once Torts goes off, he rarely shifts gears back to "expansive/ collegial" mode.

It is what it is. Mike Yeo is exceedingly easy to deal with. AV would turn on the charm to say what we wanted to say for as long as he wanted to say it, then would want to end it ASAP. Gordo was great with the Flyers press. Hak was always guarded. Chief was right-to-the-point and serially honest but also had a great sense of humor on an average day. Lavy wasn't much for joking around and had his fair game and off-limits questions but would provide just enough.

Torts is, well, Torts. He really isn't a bad person -- at all -- but he can very easy or very difficult, and he sets the rules of engagement daily.
- bmeltzer

As a fan this is an issue -- if he doesn't want to talk a reporter should at least get that on record and report that -- not say torts is being torts today and accept it