John Tortorella's Future in Doubt Following Shocking Comments After Embarrassing Loss to the Leafs
Flyers coach John Tortorella spoke after his club lost 7-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, taking the blame for the loss.
By all indications, the Philadelphia Flyers will not be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, marking another difficult year in their rebuilding process. On Tuesday night, the Flyers were blasted 7-2 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, an embarrassing setback that dropped them even further out of the playoff chase.
Afterward, head coach John Tortorella assumed responsibility not only for the loss but how the Flyers had been playing of late:
When you're in this type of situation, you're losing all of the time, and there is nothing at the end of the tunnel for you; there's certainly going to be some frustration.
This falls on me. I'm not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season where we're at right now. I have to do a better job.
So this falls on me, getting the team prepared to play the proper way until we get to the end.
This falls on me. I'm not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season where we're at right now. I have to do a better job.
So this falls on me, getting the team prepared to play the proper way until we get to the end.
Tuesday night also marked the first time that former Flyers forward Scott Laughton faced his old club since being traded to the Leafs earlier in the month on the March 7 Trade Deadline.
The passionate Flyers coach had had nothing but good things to say about the now-former Philadelphia forward.
The way I can explain it He's just full of the glue of a locker room. That's really important - especially with where we are at as an organization and what we're trying to build - to have that foundation guy to understand the small things before you get on the ice and help transport that over to our younger guys.
I thought he was very important that way.
It's hard for him. I know it's been a little bit of an adjustment for him here. You've been with one organization for your whole career; drafted (by the Flyers), and gone through all of the crap we've gone through.
In talking to him, he's just trying to keep his head down and fit in. When he'd walk into a locker room in Philly, he'd take it over.
It's been an adjustment period, and I hope people are patient with him. It's a huge adjustment for him, but you're going to find out what he is about, eventually.
I thought he was very important that way.
It's hard for him. I know it's been a little bit of an adjustment for him here. You've been with one organization for your whole career; drafted (by the Flyers), and gone through all of the crap we've gone through.
In talking to him, he's just trying to keep his head down and fit in. When he'd walk into a locker room in Philly, he'd take it over.
It's been an adjustment period, and I hope people are patient with him. It's a huge adjustment for him, but you're going to find out what he is about, eventually.
John Tortorella On The Hot Seat In The City Of Brotherly Love
Though Tortorella had high praise for his former player, it doesn't make his miserable season any better.
Philadelphia has lost 11 of their last 13 games, rank near the bottom of the league in goals for and goals against, and it's back to back games the team has given up seven goals.
It's a bit perplexing, as Philadelphia has a lot of solid pieces and young foundational players to build around, but it seems that 'Torts' just hasn't been able to maximize their potential.
But it's hard to blame Tortorella solely, because he's shown to be a successful coach wherever he goes, and the Flyers are the one team he hasn't been able to figure out.
There isn't much time to figure it out either, and the steep drop-off from last season's success to this year's misery is something to take note of.
Though as it always is, the coach ends up being the scapegoat no matter how bad the players play; it's their job to make sure they do better.
Tortorella is doing his best to do what he can, but it may not be enough for him to see the future potential they possess and he could be looking for work elsewhere come 2025-26.
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MARS 26 | 445 ANSWERS John Tortorella's Future in Doubt Following Shocking Comments After Embarrassing Loss to the Leafs Will John Tortorella be with the Flyers next year? | ||
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