After John Tortorella and the Columbus Blue Jackets mutually parted ways after the 2020-21 season, it was unclear whether Tortorella would return to coaching in the NHL. The now 63-year-old coach had been in NHL roles for what seems like forever, getting his start as an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres in 1989. When he made the move to broadcasting, joining ESPN’s NHL coverage for the 2021-22 campaign, some had thought that signaled the end of his lengthy coaching career.
It now seems that Tortorella will be back in the fold next season. Tortorella reportedly interviewed with the Philadelphia Flyers for their head coaching vacancy in late May, and the fit between the coach’s infamous personality and the team’s historically aggressive identity seemed just too perfect. After a few weeks, the Flyers have zeroed in on Tortorella as their top finalist, with ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting late last night that the team had offered the position to Tortorella. He also noted that there were “more negotiations required for the deal to be completed,” which TSN’s Pierre LeBrun says will take place Thursday.
There’s some fair criticism of the Flyers for choosing an option with such an old-school approach in a league that’s evolving more every season. Tortorella went viral for some of his quips on ESPN this past season, including chastising Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras for his lacrosse pass to Sonny Milano for a goal early in the season and saying that Connor McDavid would have to change his game for the Edmonton Oilers to win in the playoffs, which didn’t age well. It’s fair to wonder if that’s the right voice in the room for the Flyers, who, as their core continues to age past its prime, need to focus on the development of their existing prospects in order to be competitive.
However, Tortorella does have a track record of success that’s impossible to ignore. His time with the Columbus Blue Jackets gives the most accurate picture of the coach the Flyers might get, and there are definitely some good takeaways there. Aside from guiding the team to their first playoff series win in franchise history (against a historically great Tampa Bay Lightning squad), he showed an ability to cool his temper and adapt that he hasn’t shown in past jobs. However, he did have some pretty notable rifts with younger players, especially Pierre-Luc Dubois. The Flyers can ill-afford to botch prospect development at this point.
If Tortorella does complete negotiations with the Flyers and takes the job, he’ll be one of the most interesting stories to watch in the NHL for the 2022-23 season.
The reports of the alumni of the Flyers pushing the corporate office to hire torts. So Clark and Holmgren are the ones once again trying to relive the 1980’s
What a disaster. Fletcher is a failure and this team will be the most unpleasant to be on and watch. No way any free agent comes to Flyers now. Top pick in 2023.
I hate this
That makes 2 of us
He’s the last guy this team needs
John Tortorella is like getting the teacher in school that nobody likes.
That is absolutely false. Many CBJs loved the guy.
Maybe he/she was referring to the fans?
That would be even more false. : )
As a Columbus fan, I can attest Torts was good for this franchise, but his time came and he had to move on. Having said that, my impression of the Flyers is a team headed for a rebuild. If Torts can’t raise their game, then that will probably be the next step. The eastern conference is competitive and it can be tough to win there. Hanging on to something that doesn’t work for any length of time is a bad idea. .Look how many years teams like Ottawa, New Jersey and Buffalo have been roaming the wilderness. Yzerman in Detroit knows he is committed to the long haul, having publicly stated it can take 7 to 10 years to rebuild a franchise. In spite of whatever prospects they may already have, the rebuild in Montreal will be long and painful. Chicago made the Seth Jones trade last summer as a team in denial about what was about to happen to them. I see the Flyers in a similar situation.
The Chicago Seth Jones comment is spot on. This looks like a team that would mortgage their future just to get back to being relevant. Bad idea.
Torts and the Philly media. Perfect fit, lol!
Let see if Torts and Howard Eskin go after each other
Jesus I can only hope! Lol If Mikey Miss was still on he’d probably take a shot at torts also. Although they never talk about hockey on 97.5 anyway.
should be very entertaining. Go Flyers !