I think with all the young guys, they have to play….the Flyers have to live with inconsistency and mistakes. That includes Frost.
- landros 2

I agree with this. I think scratching Frost in the home opener is just Torts being Torts. On the same level as scratching Sanheim in Calgary or Frost in Toronto. Its about embarrassing the player as much or more than it is about his play.

If Deslauriers is so tough to play against and people don't understand that. Why in an 80 game sample last season, did the opposition score 65% of the goals scored when Deslauriers was on the ice?
- MJL

Opponents looked pretty intimated while lighting all those lamps, tho. 😱

I agree with this. I think scratching Frost in the home opener is just Torts being Torts. On the same level as scratching Sanheim in Calgary or Frost in Toronto. Its about embarrassing the player as much or more than it is about his play.
- MBFlyerfan

It's game 3 of 82 and we haven't had the same lineup for any of the three. Seems that Torts originally thought he was down a #1 C in Coots for the game, but once deemed available to play, he took out another C who hasn't come out of the gates as strong as he showed last year. That's it. If he continues to sit Frost, then there's reason to speculate dog house, never get fair shake, etc. We all know there's a logjam at the forward position and until there's definitive separation by the kids or young veterans in the top 9 on this squad, there will be a rotation. Frost is not the only culprit here, but I think was odd man out due to the game day situation of expecting Coots to be out and then able to play. I truly don't think Torts has some diabolical plot to ruin Frost's career. Just my $0.02.

It's game 3 of 82 and we haven't had the same lineup for any of the three. Seems that Torts originally thought he was down a #1 C in Coots for the game, but once deemed available to play, he took out another C who hasn't come out of the gates as strong as he showed last year. That's it. If he continues to sit Frost, then there's reason to speculate dog house, never get fair shake, etc. We all know there's a logjam at the forward position and until there's definitive separation by the kids or young veterans in the top 9 on this squad, there will be a rotation. Frost is not the only culprit here, but I think was odd man out due to the game day situation of expecting Coots to be out and then able to play. I truly don't think Torts has some diabolical plot to ruin Frost's career. Just my $0.02.
- bgratch

Tortorella is just an bumhole and a mediocre coach. This is a team that is supposedly rebuilding and has no chance of competing for a playoff spot. Why on earth would a team like that have such a logjam at forward that results in one of the best young players on the team getting scratched? Odd man out due to Couturier, who has played every game playing again? Not buying it.

I'm not sure if Vancouver is that bad or the Flyers punched slightly above their weight because they laid the boots to the Canucks.

They need to play all the young players and have patience. Even if they have a few bad games or a stretch of bad games. Coach them through it. Give them the opportunity. Scratching Frost after two game is ridiculously absurd.
- MJL

But to play all the young kids means a veteran in the current top 9 needs to sit or move down to the 4th line. Who is that player. I really don't think this is about Frost versus ND for example. ND is fine for the 4th line with Peohling and Hathaway. Laughton IMO would not accept a demotion to the 4th line, so to me the only solution is a player in the current top 9 needs to be moved out. Next game I would put Frost back in and sit Farabee.

I'm not sure if Vancouver is that bad or the Flyers punched slightly above their weight because they laid the boots to the Canucks.
- Pacificgem

I suggest you listen to Tocchet's post game, he really laid into his team. Said players were not competing and not communicating.

But to play all the young kids means a veteran in the current top 9 needs to sit or move down to the 4th line. Who is that player. I really don't think this is about Frost versus ND for example. ND is fine for the 4th line with Peohling and Hathaway. Laughton IMO would not accept a demotion to the 4th line, so to me the only solution is a player in the current top 9 needs to be moved out. Next game I would put Frost back in and sit Farabee.
- jd250

We've had that discussion before. Sitting Farabee is also absurd.

I agree with this. I think scratching Frost in the home opener is just Torts being Torts. On the same level as scratching Sanheim in Calgary or Frost in Toronto. Its about embarrassing the player as much or more than it is about his play.
- MBFlyerfan

I am team positive and actually some things Torts does, but the Frost thing last night even convinced me, Torts goes after players he does not like. He treats Frost like a vet who is still not learning. Maybe there are some good reasons but in a rebuild, you need all your assets at max value, Torts approach can influence that and it is childish.

All that said, we will see what happens Thursday. I expect Torts will ice the same team, which will be compounding his mistake.

this is not true. first game frost was terrible. they both had issues game two. but in the two games to start tip was the better of the two.
- Peter Richards

Don’t agree, Tip was fighting the puck both games, tried to do to much and actually impacted how the line played as a whole. Frost kept trying to feed Tip, Frost should have kept the puck more.

But to play all the young kids means a veteran in the current top 9 needs to sit or move down to the 4th line. Who is that player. I really don't think this is about Frost versus ND for example. ND is fine for the 4th line with Peohling and Hathaway. Laughton IMO would not accept a demotion to the 4th line, so to me the only solution is a player in the current top 9 needs to be moved out. Next game I would put Frost back in and sit Farabee.
- jd250

Doesn’t matter what happens it will just be criticized and complained about.

Look, you can cry all you want about it but Torts said it best in the post game, Frost sat because Couts was able to play and other players are playing better than Frost. I mean look at the impact Brink made in last night's game. He was threat almost every time he was on the ice. Can you honestly say that about Frost? I want to see both Brink and Foerster in the lineup every night this season so they can develop, but that means someone sits. Last night it was Frost, next game who knows. Maybe it is Tippet, though I thought he played well last night. I mentioned earlier, Frost needs to step up his game; he clearly was not playing like I saw him play in pre-season and this is my knock against Frost, there is just no consistency in his game.
- jd250

Agree with most of this but Frost is young and developing, 2 games in its just a BS excuse

But to play all the young kids means a veteran in the current top 9 needs to sit or move down to the 4th line. Who is that player. I really don't think this is about Frost versus ND for example. ND is fine for the 4th line with Peohling and Hathaway. Laughton IMO would not accept a demotion to the 4th line, so to me the only solution is a player in the current top 9 needs to be moved out. Next game I would put Frost back in and sit Farabee.
- jd250

Huh?

Right, he lead the team in scoring the 2nd half of last season, has a good camp and then comes out flat the first two games. This is my problem with Frost. You can't say he didn't get the minutes or he was not playing with good players. Frost is good enough that he should never give the coach reason to sit him in favor of a younger player, but he comes out flat and this is what happens. You can't deny Brink needs to play in every game for the Flyers, he is one of their best forwards right now, and Foerster needs to develop his confidence, so someone needs to sit. I wouldn't mind it being Nick D, and just Laughton down to the 4th line. I think it's going to be this way until we get closer to the trade deadline and then one of the vets like Laughton needs to be moved.
- jd250

They got smoked 5-2, all were bad in game 2. I agree Brink looks the part, quicker than I expected and his hockey IQ is clear

They got smoked 5-2, all were bad in game 2. I agree Brink looks the part, quicker than I expected and his hockey IQ is clear
- wcorvette

Its crazy how up and down the NHL is.

Its crazy how up and down the NHL is.
- MJL

You mean every sport?

Tortorella is just an bumhole and a mediocre coach.

You have made your opinion on Torts well known to anyone that spends 5 min on this board and I tend to agree with you on many of his antics.


This is a team that is supposedly rebuilding and has no chance of competing for a playoff spot. Why on earth would a team like that have such a logjam at forward that results in one of the best young players on the team getting scratched?


That's a GM question, not a coach question. Regardless, we're 3 games in and this is a rebuilding team that seeks to put their best foot forward on the ice. There will be times to question any and all decisions made by Briere, Jones, & Torts, but some lineup shuffling this early shouldn't raise your pulse too much. Especially when you have already written them off for the year. Sitting Frost or Tippet or Cates for a game isn't going to stunt their growth.

Odd man out due to Couturier, who has played every game playing again? Not buying it.
- MJL

He's arguably our best player and hasn't been on home ice for almost 2 years. If he's able to play, you play him on the home opener.

Again only my $0.02.

He's arguably our best player and hasn't been on home ice for almost 2 years. If he's able to play, you play him on the home opener.

Again only my $0.02.
- bgratch

For some reason you think the only choice was to play Couturier or Frost.

For some reason you think the only choice was to play Couturier or Frost.
- MJL

Torts just got fired and the Flyers hire coach MJL, what's your daily lineup?

1) Cap doesn't matter in this hypothetical situation.
2) No trades, only players signed to an NHL contract.
3) Provide the line combinations.
4) Everyone is healthy except Ellis, he's still dead.

For some reason you think the only choice was to play Couturier or Frost.
- MJL

No I don't, I'm trying to rationalize the decision to sit Frost when other players are also slow out of the gate. Coots is a top 6 C, so is Frost. Tippett is a winger. In Tort's eye, Cates brought more to the lineup than Frost. That's all I can come up with. Calling him a bumhole, archaic, etc is just childish.

Again it's game 3. The constant hand wringing and imagining Torts as a villain is pure fantasy by many.

Torts just got fired and the Flyers hire coach MJL, what's your daily lineup?

1) Cap doesn't matter in this hypothetical situation.
2) No trades, only players signed to an NHL contract.
3) Provide the line combinations.
4) Everyone is healthy except Ellis, he's still dead.
- Glak18

I've already posted what I would do.

No I don't, I'm trying to rationalize the decision to sit Frost when other players are also slow out of the gate. Coots is a top 6 C, so is Frost. Tippett is a winger. In Tort's eye, Cates brought more to the lineup than Frost. That's all I can come up with. Calling him a bumhole, archaic, etc is just childish.

Again it's game 3. The constant hand wringing and imagining Torts as a villain is pure fantasy by many.
- bgratch

There have been 3 games played. In the first two games, Couturier, Frost and Cates were all in the lineup at center. Tippett was also in the lineup in those games. You may think that's childish but it's accurate.

It is actually your imagination that others are imagining him as a villain. That is the only fantasy here. My position is that he is a mediocre coach whom the game has passed by and here we are, three games into the season and he's already starting his bullpoop. He needs to go.