lol, really do tell

do you think ex selke is one of the top 12 best player son this team? yes or no.
- hello it's me 2050

Yes. I love questions like that.

While I may not agree with Coots getting scratched, I'm not as outraged. From a faceoff standpoint, we needed him last night but you still have to ask how much Coots would have helped in that department. The Leafs crushed us at the dot. Now from the standpoint of overall play, Coots has been bad since having the "C" slapped on his chest. The guy has skated into his own teammates multiple times. I'm not even sure there's a highlight of him scoring as captain yet.

Again, not agreeing but Coots needs to be better.

Has the agent actually watched his client play the past 20 games or so?

He is either nursing an injury, just exhausted or something else is going on. Either way, hes been bad. Yes, we know he had a nice assist the other night, but more times than not he is not noticeable.

This isnt the selke from the Pitt series. This is a faster game than it was even just two or three years ago and he is having trouble keeping up. That's the truth. Hopefully that changes, but for now he needs to be better.

He can walk right into Torts office and ask and not make comments (Kevin Hayes) style as if he has no clue why he is scratched. I love the player, but when did he become Bobby Clarke or Mark Messier? If he is not helping the team win then he is allowed to be scratched and Bill - start being objective with this coach. You know the player is not performing right now. We know you like the player as you should, but you are kinda sounding like a naive parent here.
- 26912 PP1

So much of this is wrong. I'm not sure where to start. The agent's issue is not that he is disputing that Couturier's play has been subpar. It's that there has not been the proper communication. The player should not have to go to the coach to find out why or to get information. Not giving a player of that stature the respect of talking to him is a slap in the face and not how you treat a player like that.
Couturier's issue is not keeping up with the game. That is lazy analysis and a frequent false complaint from the past. His issue is that he is not 100% physically and he was overplayed in the first half of the season by the coach. Bill's point, and he is correct, is that Couturier can still be a help to the team and his faceoff ability could've had aided the team late in the game with all of the D zone draws. How is that not being objective?
You kinda sound like an uninformed fan.

is it possible that he could just watch one of his games to realize why he was scratched? this isnt brain surgery here
- 26912 PP1

Plenty of players have had subpar periods of play without being scratched. He's a veteran and top player on the team. He is the captain. He deserves to be able to work through it.

I think Torts is a big fat phony. He wants you to believe that everyone is to be held "accountable" and to a "standard" but he will not even address the issues directly with a player he scratches. How does that drive accountability or a standard?

Also, ducking the questions with the media is bush league. Come on tough guy answer the questions. Be accountable.

Plenty of players have had subpar periods of play without being scratched. He's a veteran and top player on the team. He is the captain. He deserves to be able to work through it.
- MJL

How long does he get, the rest of the season?

Yes. I love questions like that.
- 26912 PP1

they coaches goal is to try to win every game it has been said. So no reason based on what we know to sit him. you let him work through it as at any moment he can turn it around.

now if hurt then say so, or if you want to give him a rest then say. flyers as usual say nothing and let it fester. that's when all the speculation comes about.

once again not a good look for the gold standard flyers.

I think Torts is a big fat phony. He wants you to believe that everyone is to be held "accountable" and to a "standard" but he will not even address the issues directly with a player he scratches. How does that drive accountability or a standard?

Also, ducking the questions with the media is bush league. Come on tough guy answer the questions. Be accountable.
- mickel25

he wot even hold himself accountable for the putrid pp 2 years in a row

I don’t think anyone is questioning that Couturier has been struggling or even that he might benefit from time off. What many are questioning, and should be questioning is:

Why is there a lack of communication between Torts and Couts? Did Torts not want him named captain?

And, more importantly, who is running this organization? Torts? Briere? Jones?

No other Flyers HC has ever had any issues with Couturier, in fact they’ve all praised them highly. What is Tortorella’s issue? He’s on record saying it’s not effort and that he respects the player, so what is going on? Does Torts honestly believe that all 12 forwards in the lineup last night are all better players than Couts? Nic D? Cates at center? I find that pretty hard to believe.

Torts has a long track record of playing petty mind games with players. It might get him some short term success but in the long run it’s detrimental to the team.

The agent is speaking out now:



https://theathletic.com/5...-scratch-john-tortorella/
- Tomahawk

Setting up to move Captain Coots? Boost his value by making him captain? Obscure his diminishing abilities by blaming it on a conflict with the coach?

While I may not agree with Coots getting scratched, I'm not as outraged. From a faceoff standpoint, we needed him last night but you still have to ask how much Coots would have helped in that department. The Leafs crushed us at the dot. Now from the standpoint of overall play, Coots has been bad since having the "C" slapped on his chest. The guy has skated into his own teammates multiple times. I'm not even sure there's a highlight of him scoring as captain yet.

Again, not agreeing but Coots needs to be better.
- roenick97

I’m not outraged either, all I hear is this is a rebuild, this is a rebuild, play the young players. Well last night against a top team and in as playoff race, all the young players in the org that could play did play. Yet people will full complain, can’t make it up! Oh and all the young players looked really good last night.

And, more importantly, who is running this organization? Torts? Briere? Jones?
- BiggE

Torts was the first guy hired, the architect of the whole team philosophy, and he's got a direct line to Hilferty.

Jones and Briere are just minions. Lightweight ones at that.

I don’t think anyone is questioning that Couturier has been struggling or even that he might benefit from time off. What many are questioning, and should be questioning is:

Why is there a lack of communication between Torts and Couts? Did Torts not want him named captain?

And, more importantly, who is running this organization? Torts? Briere? Jones?

No other Flyers HC has ever had any issues with Couturier, in fact they’ve all praised them highly. What is Tortorella’s issue? He’s on record saying it’s not effort and that he respects the player, so what is going on? Does Torts honestly believe that all 12 forwards in the lineup last night are all better players than Couts? Nic D? Cates at center? I find that pretty hard to believe.

Torts has a long track record of playing petty mind games with players. It might get him some short term success but in the long run it’s detrimental to the team.
- BiggE

I just think Coots is above this type of treatment whether he was the captain or not. He is a guy that works hard to the detriment of his own physical wellbeing. A player that always puts the team first. Those things are the apparent "standard" Torts is trying to establish. Why bench the player that is most emblematic of the standard?

Benching a player without addressing it directly with them is bad management. Benching a player that is respected as much as Coots is a hail mary that may get Torts canned.

I never liked the decision to Bench our captain….but the whole reason is to give the team a jolt IMO. Torts is always trying to take guys out of their comfort zone. Mission accomplished. Will it work long term ? No. I think everyone agrees Coots needs to be better and this is the coach using his methods to drag it out of him.
Torts doesn’t give a flying fack what anyone thinks of his methods….never has ….never will.
By benching this guy I would think every single player realizes they are not immune to such treatment which is the intent of the benching. The benching serves both short and long term goals….whether it works or not is anyone’s guess…but no one can suggest Coot’s at 70% is still not a top 12 forward on this team every night.

I just think Coots is above this type of treatment whether he was the captain or not. He is a guy that works hard to the detriment of his own physical wellbeing. A player that always puts the team first. Those things are the apparent "standard" Torts is trying to establish. Why bench the player that is most emblematic of the standard?

Benching a player without addressing it directly with them is bad management. Benching a player that is respected as much as Coots is a hail mary that may get Torts canned.
- mickel25

That’s the difference….Torts does not want “ANY” player thinking they are above this treatment. Including his new struggling captain.

I think Torts is a big fat phony. He wants you to believe that everyone is to be held "accountable" and to a "standard" but he will not even address the issues directly with a player he scratches. How does that drive accountability or a standard?

Also, ducking the questions with the media is bush league. Come on tough guy answer the questions. Be accountable.
- mickel25

It is and always has been projection. From the President on down. They crow the standard and accountability for the players to distract you from the lack of such from upper management and the old guard.

I don’t think anyone is questioning that Couturier has been struggling or even that he might benefit from time off. What many are questioning, and should be questioning is:

Why is there a lack of communication between Torts and Couts? Did Torts not want him named captain?

And, more importantly, who is running this organization? Torts? Briere? Jones?

No other Flyers HC has ever had any issues with Couturier, in fact they’ve all praised them highly. What is Tortorella’s issue? He’s on record saying it’s not effort and that he respects the player, so what is going on? Does Torts honestly believe that all 12 forwards in the lineup last night are all better players than Couts? Nic D? Cates at center? I find that pretty hard to believe.

Torts has a long track record of playing petty mind games with players. It might get him some short term success but in the long run it’s detrimental to the team.
- BiggE

The only players on the team that can be compared to Couts are the other centers. Poehling, Laughts and Frost are all playing better. So it comes down to playing Couts on the 4th line right now. Maybe he was pouting and didn’t want to play down in the lineup so Torts sat him out? We are not in the locker room so it’s all speculation.

I don’t have a subscription to the Athletic but did see a headline of a story about how Couturier’s agent is unhappy with the Flyers communication. So I do not know what is quoted or referenced but presume his agent is a bit perturbed with the Flyers. What concerns me, is that in a very short period of time, we have that, and the Johansen mystery injury, and the Gauthier incident. Is all this apparent angst a coincidence or is it a manifestation of a real problem behind the scenes in Flyerland?

How long does he get, the rest of the season?
- WhiskeyMan

Yes, unless there is a physical issue preventing him from playing.

Torts was the first guy hired, the architect of the whole team philosophy, and he's got a direct line to Hilferty.

Jones and Briere are just minions. Lightweight ones at that.
- Tomahawk

Kinda hilarious when you think about the effort Briere put in to get his online MBA certificate. Management 101 is aligning strategic initiatives from top of organization on down. Flyers are anything but strategically aligned.

Briere must’ve went to Hanna-Barbera business school with Roman Roy.

I’m not outraged either, all I hear is this is a rebuild, this is a rebuild, play the young players. Well last night against a top team and in as playoff race, all the young players in the org that could play did play. Yet people will full complain, can’t make it up! Oh and all the young players looked really good last night.
- jd250

All the young players didn't look really good last night. They should keep playing though. That's how you get better.

I'm tellin ya...Torts wants a confrontation with his captain! Just like he did with Frost. Not saying it's the right thing to do, but where there is smoke there is fire. Seems like this is his MO. Coots is too mellow for Torts...come on baby light my fire! Says the Doors!
- Phillywhiteout

Bingo, he's playing head games to get them pissed as a group so they go out and take it out on the other teams. They are fighting to keep that playoff spot, and Tort's is giving them the gas for the fire at his expense.

ND injured Reaves. So does that mean Reaves is officially the least useful player in the NHL?

Also, did ND help the Leafs by sidelining Reaves?

Bingo, he's playing head games to get them pissed as a group so they go out and take it out on the other teams. They are fighting to keep that playoff spot, and Tort's is giving them the gas for the fire at his expense.
- Flyerz74

Head games, should give long lasting results. That's how you build a team capable of winning the cup. With head games. What's going to happen first? The Flyers get to the point of being a legitimate cup contender or they get tired of Tortorella's head games?

You take the two points and run obviously but this is game that more time than not, the Flyers will lose. The Flyers are a defensive team and they gave up way too much. They were more competitive and played better but it's nothing to celebrate. Flyers came out on the better end of puck luck. Two seeing eye goals that got through traffic and went in and the Leafs hit at least 5 posts. Flyers hit a couple. Most nights, the Flyers will lose that game. There is also the Nylander play with the open net where the puck luckily hit York when he wasn't even facing the shooter.
- MJL

That’s hockey. Plenty of games they probably should have won and got no luck. It all evens out.