When ESPN’s Kevin Weekes broke the news late Tuesday night that the Philadelphia Flyers had offered their head coaching vacancy to John Tortorella, there were plenty of mixed reactions surrounding the team’s potential hire of the controversial coach. Those in opposition likely hoped that the final set of negotiations required to complete the deal would fall through, and the Flyers would go in another direction.
According to The Athletic’s Charlie O’Connor, those hopes are all but gone. O’Connor notes that the negotiations between the Flyers and Tortorella are indeed “in the final stages,” and that an official announcement on the hire is expected to come tomorrow. It will be extremely interesting to learn what the terms of Tortorella’s contract are (if they’re released), considering the Flyers are still on the hook for $5MM to Alain Vigneault through 2024.
- Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman notes on today’s 32 Thoughts podcast he believes that the Florida Panthers have been “talking to people” over the phone regarding their head coaching vacancy, and gauging their interest in the role. While it’s not a sure thing that they’ll move on from interim head coach Andrew Brunette, it shows that the team is at least interested in examining other options. It’s a bit surprising the team isn’t more committed to keeping Brunette around, especially considering how locked in the Edmonton Oilers are on extending Jay Woodcroft, who’s in a very similar situation to Brunette.
- During a radio appearance this morning, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar noted that both Nazem Kadri and Andrew Cogliano have “gotten better,” saying that it’s a possibility at least one of them will return during the Stanley Cup Final. It’s a positive assessment, and while they are both still labeled as day-to-day, Kadri has yet to even practice while holding a stick after his thumb injury. Colorado will be watching their health closely, as they’re two incredibly important pieces to their forward depth that could help swing the series in their favor.
ugh
Philly needs Torts to come in and kick some ass!
The front office dose NOT want Torts. They have told The Board of Directors. But it’s the same old four headed alumni that want torts. This team does not have personnel that reflect of hard towards wants to play the game. They’re going to cut the whole team just to get his type of players
Thanks for pretending to be a Flyers insiders. Always fun when you guys play that card. You act like the Flyers are a player or two from playing for the Cup. Hint: maybe moving some guys out and playing a different style is in order. Or are you looking to keep the status quo so the fellas can continue to start golf season early?
I’m a Rangers fan.I’ve seen his game. He’ll burn out his team by the 50 game.
Oh, you’re a Rangers fan. Well shoot. I guess we should just ignore the 3 long stints he had in Tampa, NY and Columbus and listen to you instead.
By the 50 game. Was that part of your strategy to make sense? The guy has won everywhere and taken teams on playoff runs. You seem very new to hockey.
Good luck recruiting UFAs or players with Modified no-trade to Philly if you sign Torts
Does Torts scare you? My guess is that many NHL players are not scared to play for a coach that has won everywhere and has a ring.
I know that Torts has his warts, so to speak. I know that he rubs a lot of people the wrong way and that he isn’t the best fit for many teams. But, gosh darn it, he’s so entertaining that I hope he does get the Flyers gig. Full disclosure: I’m a Pens fan, but I’m not hoping the Flyers hire Torts because it would necessarily be a bad move for them. I like having Tortorella and his passion behind some team’s bench.
Let me be clear, hiring Torts won’t work…BECAUSE the Flyers organization needs a full fumigation which won’t happen so NOTHING they do will work.
SO, in that context…I think hiring Torts is the best move they can make, at present.
The worst thing to happen to the Flyers was Hextall remolding them in the image of Hextall the GM and not Hextall the player. They are so meek now.
Broad Street Bullies won’t work, BUT the Flyers need an identity and their identity should be snarl. Not many coaches today bring that. Torts is the closest.
all more muscle would do is make them annoying AND suck. the team’s issues go father than “snarl” – they don’t defend well and lack scorers.
Johnny Hockey is not going to Philly if Torts is there. He doesn’t like that type of coach.
Thanks for pretending to be part of Johnny Hockey’s inner circle. Fun to watch!