since 2010 about covers that, but to say it was a complete wash is not correct in my opinion, they are where they need to be, as long as they stay in top for this draft and unless a miracle trade is out there, they need to focus on #1 in 2026.
- wcorvette

The whole Torts thing was just time wasted (or maybe buying time?).

They wasted some of the prime development years for some of these kids. They should have been looking to expand their creativity, test their limits, grow their offensive games... but instead they were taught to toe the line and be afraid of making mistakes by a coach who self-admittedly knows nothing about the offensive side of the game (including the PP, good god).

Gotta be a huge sigh of relief from almost everybody in that room not named Poehling.

Never should have got the job. It was such a "round peg/round hole" situation the Flyers put themselves in.

His antics wore thin and hopefully this was his final gig. At least coaching a young team.
- Pelle31Forever

Agree with the above.


The Flyers were a team where no coach with name recognition were taking their calls and Torts was a coach who was retired because nobody was calling him. Match made in hell.

At least the media can stop propping up this poopshow. Every win was a win that only Torts could've gotten out of this roster, otherwise they were an 0-82 team. Every loss was the players fault.

Torts could do no wrong from the insane line changes at the beginning of the year to the insane Michkov benchings, to York just this week all the while Torts grinders got unlimited icetime and unlimited free passes. The inane Rocky defenses week after week, year after year. No accountability on the ice or of the coaches if he liked you. If he didn't you could do nothing right and yet the Flyers thought this was a great environment for development.

The Flyers may finally be now, where they should've been 2+ years ago. All they need to do now if fire the front office and "man of the people" Hilferty. The Flyers are great in firing a fall guy and then 99% of the operation continues business as usual.

News alert, some Flyers posters shattered and in therapy after finding out they were dead wrong about who is the GM. Stayed turned for breaking details.
- wcorvette

Might want to slow your roll there a bit. Fletcher was untouchable, until his poopshow of a press conference. He was fired because of the bad PR, not for being incompetent. Torts is the same deal. Even Comcast couldn't cover up the stink coming from Torts press conferences lately. That's why he was fired, not the results, and not accountability. Torts has a long line of things he's done which should've been criticized and held accountable.

Torts still holds the distinction of only head coach in modern NHL history to let someone else coach his team while he shoots the poop with the GM in the press box for multiple games. I know that doesn't bother everyone but he's the coach, not front office.

The fact that Torts lasted this long means either DB couldn't fire him without cover, or he didn't want to fire him.

The whole Torts thing was just time wasted (or maybe buying time?).

They wasted some of the prime development years for some of these kids. They should have been looking to expand their creativity, test their limits, grow their offensive games... but instead they were taught to toe the line and be afraid of making mistakes by a coach who self-admittedly knows nothing about the offensive side of the game (including the PP, good god).

Gotta be a huge sigh of relief from almost everybody in that room not named Poehling.
- Tomahawk

IMO, the way Michkov was treated this year was embarrassing and, while opinions will vary, I think set him back. He now has 100s of hours and a season of repetition that tells him his creative instincts are wrong and bad. Backchecking and shot blocking are job 1. Not saying he won't still be really good and that defense doesn't matter but this was a prime development year, wasted.

Just having to listen to Rocky tell you how to screw up a power play every day. Reminds me how everyone was so impressed with the Flyers bringing in the PP consultants .. lol. It was stupid and was putting lipstick on a pig.

I just hope that Briere brings in somebody from outside the Flyers organization. No Shaw, no Lappy. There will be more head coaches fired at the end of the season. Let's see who will be available for DB to choose from.

The whole Torts thing was just time wasted (or maybe buying time?).

They wasted some of the prime development years for some of these kids. They should have been looking to expand their creativity, test their limits, grow their offensive games... but instead they were taught to toe the line and be afraid of making mistakes by a coach who self-admittedly knows nothing about the offensive side of the game (including the PP, good god).

Gotta be a huge sigh of relief from almost everybody in that room not named Poehling.
- Tomahawk

Yea, I am on record disagreeing with Torts and his player management, but there was some value he brought, and they dont have enough talent where Torts could have had that big of an impact. I do think with him gone, it removes all the excuses

Might want to slow your roll there a bit. Fletcher was untouchable, until his poopshow of a press conference. He was fired because of the bad PR, not for being incompetent. Torts is the same deal. Even Comcast couldn't cover up the stink coming from Torts press conferences lately. That's why he was fired, not the results, and not accountability. Torts has a long line of things he's done which should've been criticized and held accountable.

Torts still holds the distinction of only head coach in modern NHL history to let someone else coach his team while he shoots the poop with the GM in the press box for multiple games. I know that doesn't bother everyone but he's the coach, not front office.

The fact that Torts lasted this long means either DB couldn't fire him without cover, or he didn't want to fire him.
- Flyers_01

No roll to slow, it is my opinion, just like what you wrote is yours, but the folks who said that Torts was a co-GM were wrong, no debate to it. He is gone and DB fired him, the is the fact, if someone has verifiable inside information to prove otherwise, I am all ears.

Flyers brass wants to tank the rest of the season. Torts didn't want to tank, he wanted to win at least some of the remaining games.. THAT'S what he meant by saying he didn't want to learn to coach like this.

No roll to slow, it is my opinion, just like what you wrote is yours, but the folks who said that Torts was a co-GM were wrong, no debate to it. He is gone and DB fired him, the is the fact, if someone has verifiable inside information to prove otherwise, I am all ears.
- wcorvette

You are using one fact, that Torts was fired after a disastrous press conference, to validate your world view of the Flyers over the last 3 years. That is not a solid foundation.

It is of course your opinion but is not a basis for any sort of logical conclusion. Where is the evidence of Briere reigning him in, controlling him, confronting him before now? There isn't. DB as far as we know and all the local media that Comcast could buy or cajole painted this as one big happy thruple. Rocky was untouchable, Torts had free reign, DB got rid of every player that Torts didn't like.

Up until Today, give me some evidence where DB acted like Torts boss? Find me another NHL coach who gets to sit up in the press box with the GM eatting popcorn while his assistants coach the team?

This was purely about PR from Comcast, same as Fletch's firing. Fletch was fired for a bad press conference and so was Torts while the wheels go round and round. Find me evidence otherwise?

Flyers brass wants to tank the rest of the season. Torts didn't want to tank, he wanted to win at least some of the remaining games.. THAT'S what he meant by saying he didn't want to learn to coach like this.
- Nh_kong

If that was the case it would get out and blow up on social media. Nobody is telling the coach to lose. Spinning theories out of thin air isn't helping Torts look.

Torts didn't help himself by deliberately making the team shorthanded on defense (and not for the first time) plus that horrible press conference. He is destructive, he has been destructive but up until now the media bought off by comcast painted it as for the greater good.

Torts knows he lost the team, Torts knew there were more humiliating losses coming where he was going to look like a huge ass. Bullies don't like being humiliated so he went out swinging.

No roll to slow, it is my opinion, just like what you wrote is yours, but the folks who said that Torts was a co-GM were wrong, no debate to it. He is gone and DB fired him, the is the fact, if someone has verifiable inside information to prove otherwise, I am all ears.
- wcorvette

This is Danny’s chance to put his stamp on the team under his tenure. Hoping he had prepared a short list prior to the comments the other night. This will be a very important hire. If he hits on the right coach, some stability will be established in the front office as apposed to the coaching and GM carousel every 3-4 years. A solid hire right now, even with a young team growing and making mistakes, the fan base will be on board, keeping the village from storming the castle. So tired of all that. Hopefully it’s a hire that will allow the coach to grow as a young team grows.

Not to worry, Rocky will be gone at the end of the season. Shaw might hang around as an assistant for the new HC, possibly.
- Trox88

I like Shaw he should def stick around with the D. Rocky has to go though. That being said. I dunno if anyone can see success on the PP with this team. Lot of offensive holes in terms of talent for a PP.

Much though I celebrate Torts' dismissal, I worry it has come a little too soon. The team was on a severe downward spiral. The "new coach effect" might galvanize players and move them to a worse draft position.

Much though I celebrate Torts' dismissal, I worry it has come a little too soon. The team was on a severe downward spiral. The "new coach" effect might galvanize players and move them to a worse draft position.
- PT21

Don't worry, they kept Rocky. He'll keep them on course.

I like Shaw he should def stick around with the D. Rocky has to go though. That being said. I dunno if anyone can see success on the PP with this team. Lot of offensive holes in terms of talent for a PP.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

If you look at Torts' coaching career, outside of his first few years with the NYR, he always had below average PPs. I do not buy the talent narrative. Rocky is in charge and needs to go. However, to believe Torts had no responsibility for his awful PP, I never agreed with that narrative. He tried to deflect blame by saying they had no PP QB. Apparently, the PP QB is so elusive to have in the NHL, that Torts could not find one for over a decade and half throughout his stops in the NHL.

If you look at Torts' coaching career, outside of his first few years with the NYR, he always had below average PPs. I do not buy the talent narrative. Rocky is in charge and needs to go. However, to believe Torts had no responsibility for his awful PP, I never agreed with that narrative. He tried to deflect blame by saying they had no PP QB. Apparently, the PP QB is so elusive to have in the NHL, that Torts could not find one for over a decade and half throughout his stops in the NHL.
- Trox88

Much though I celebrate Torts' dismissal, I worry it has come a little too soon. The team was on a severe downward spiral. The "new coach" effect might galvanize players and move them to a worse draft position.
- PT21

That’s why to me, it was either building frustration that came to a head or torts said f it I’ve had enough. Does not seem strategic at all to cut him loose with this many games left and vying for a top 4 spot.

Flyers brass wants to tank the rest of the season. Torts didn't want to tank, he wanted to win at least some of the remaining games.. THAT'S what he meant by saying he didn't want to learn to coach like this.
- Nh_kong

That's my take on things too.

That’s why to me, it was either building frustration that came to a head or torts said f it I’ve had enough. Does not seem strategic at all to cut him loose with this many games left and vying for a top 4 spot.
- funmaster18

They go from saying Torts is our guiding spirit/North Star or whatever the phrase was to unceremoniously sacking him with a handful of games left.

Translation: as long as Torts was keeping up appearances as the no-nonsense old school coach who builds character, and keeping up a modicum of respectability in the standings, he was an useful facade.

But that press conference where he essentially accepted losing, along with the tailspin, short-circuited that image. You can't be old school and say that stuff when your team is circling the drains. Keeping him now would be accepting losing/tanking, and remember, Flyers never tank.

So, on to the next poster-child for ...

That's my take on things too.
- Dkos

You might be right. But point is, whether Torts wanted to or not, team was losing consistently. If mgmt also wanted losing, they were getting it.

Why rock the boat?

You might be right. But point is, whether Torts wanted to or not, team was losing consistently. If mgmt also wanted losing, they were getting it.

Why rock the boat?
- PT21

As Briere said, you don't want to be a Flyer we don't want you.

Yea, I am on record disagreeing with Torts and his player management, but there was some value he brought, and they dont have enough talent where Torts could have had that big of an impact. I do think with him gone, it removes all the excuses
- wcorvette

I agree with this take.

The number one problem with this team is, and has been, a lack of talent. Torts wasn't the only coach in the last 10 years who had to overcome this obstacle. It's been a common thread.

Briere, like Hextall, put the team in a great position to improve with the accumulation of draft picks. Now, the right choices need to be made or it'll be the same 'ol for another 10 years.

I have no problem with the way Michkov was treated. He is a tremendous talent but is in need to discover the defensive part of his game. His growth wasn't stunted in any way by he was handled. If anything, hopefully, it'll leave the impression upon him that there are three zones in which he has to be responsible in.

I agree with this take.

The number one problem with this team is, and has been, a lack of talent. Torts wasn't the only coach in the last 10 years who had to overcome this obstacle. It's been a common thread.

Briere, like Hextall, put the team in a great position to improve with the accumulation of draft picks. Now, the right choices need to be made or it'll be the same 'ol for another 10 years.

I have no problem with the way Michkov was treated. He is a tremendous talent but is in need to discover the defensive part of his game. His growth wasn't stunted in any way by he was handled. If anything, hopefully, it'll leave the impression upon him that there are three zones in which he has to be responsible in.
- 77rams

Two objections to this line of thought:

1. Does that all zone play all have to be taught in the very first year for a kid who is making so many adjustments (cultural, personal, hockey, etc.)? Look at some other all-star Russian wingers: Panarin, Kucherov, even AO. How good were they in all 3 zones in their first year? How many times were they benched for those deficiencies? How did they turn out?

2. Sometimes, the salad works better than the soup, no? Different players have different strengths. Makar is no Pronger near the boards or in the paint. etc. etc.

Briere was a cherry picker most of his career. He was decentish in the regular season. But come playoff time, he was a fiend, almost ppg player. Clutch goal after clutch goal. When it came to crunch time, his one sided offensive skills more than made up for his deficiencies.

Torts coaching career has always been about taking over an established team trying to get them to the next level. He has never been a HC guiding a team thru a rebuild. At least, Torts' footprint will only be thru being a HC.
- Trox88

Perfect post

You might be right. But point is, whether Torts wanted to or not, team was losing consistently. If mgmt also wanted losing, they were getting it.

Why rock the boat?
- PT21

Torts wanted out, he said so himself in that press conference. There was nothing that was going to enhance the "myth" of folk legend John Tortorella happening this season. It was Torts getting what he wanted one last time. He still get's the 4+ mill owed to him and doesn't have to deal with coming to work miserable.

DB delivering the news was just DB being a good boy.