does he have the authority to do so?
- hello it's me 2050

That's the rub. They are making decisions as a group right now. Danny needs to win the power struggle if he wants to be the guy.

This whole injury thing seems like a convenient way to let everybody save some face.

Danny was already in front of the cameras on trade day saying there was no chance RJ would be joining the team. This was prior to RJ arriving in Philly to see any doctors.

I call BS.
- Tomahawk

It's a very curious situation. Wouldn't shock me if the Flyers forgot to do their diligence. Or maybe, they planned to take the Robidas island (Matt Murray) approach and despite what the player says, or the fact that he seems healthy and is able to play, they find some Dr. Nick Riviera who will declare him beyond repair and then you just stuff him on LTIR until the contract runs out.

They got a first round pick for a throw in salary dump. There was gonna be some kinda baggage. Look at the other deals made at the deadline. Def a buyers market. How many first rounders or top prospects were even traded..? Flyers weaponized their cap space and I have no complaints other than I need a back up in here. To have this roster not be rewarded with decent goaltending is kinda criminal considering how hard they have worked this year. Right now Kolosov should get this spring and all of next yr in Lehigh and make the team the following year. Until then they need a back up for Ersson or even a 1 B for him. Yes, we got a decent period of back up goaltending on Sat night, but thats been really it since Hart left.

I thought GMDB’s choice of words was interesting. “Claimed” to have an injury, and we “found one”. The implication that this was hidden from the Avs and Flyers both and that that there was/is skepticism on behalf of the Flyers. Since these teams have rules to follow and need to always deal in good faith with one another, I have little doubt that Flyers front office and Avs front office have spoken and compared notes. There’s probably more to the story, but like with Quitter Gauthier, we may never find out if the player won’t address it. Definitely fishy.
- mikeyo27

If the Avs misled them or were negligent you'd think Danny would be taking an issue with them.

Like when Lombardi put Tambellini on blast for trying to trade him multiple injured players for Ryan Smyth.

And not like Danny would want to give the 1st back, but the Flyers did void the Kyle McLaren trade over a failed physical, IIRC.

The fact that they're just like "oh whatevs" about the whole thing is what's fishy.

It's a very curious situation. Wouldn't shock me if the Flyers forgot to do their diligence. Or maybe, they planned to take the Robidas island (Matt Murray) approach and despite what the player says, or the fact that he seems healthy and is able to play, they find some Dr. Nick Riviera who will declare him beyond repair and then you just stuff him on LTIR until the contract runs out.
- Hextall271

would you not have done the deal if you knew he was hurt?

The authority? Sure. But it would be an idiotic move to remove the coach from some of these decisions. They have to work as a team. Different focus but they absolutely have a huge impact on each other. So the "real man" comments are kinda ludicrous in my opinion. I want my coach and GM working hand in glove as much as possible.
- FlyersGrace

Nothing wrong with collaborating but the final decision and direction of the team should be dictated by the GM, not the coach. Torts does what he wants and you can either get on board or get out of the way because he really doesn't care what anyone else thinks. It's not like Danny will ever call him on it and even if he did, Jonesy has given Torts his full backing.

A coach isn’t working with his GM when he blatantly acts to lower the value of players (Hayes, TDA) during a season when the team had zero chance of making the playoffs.

Torts does what he wants, period.
- BiggE

Danny is Uncle Junior. He got the title and all that entails. But the boss ain't really the boss.

It wasn't a bad effort, but they can't seem to defend or kill penalties anymore with the current D corps. They really needed to get a point vs Boston on Saturday. They do not match up well with the Leafs of late and get cooked by their skilled forwards. It would be epic to get any points on Tuesday and I don't expect this to happen. We'll likely see the same result as last week.
- Hextall271

I'm thinking that tomorrow night is a statement game! Yes, the odds are stacked against them, but this is a revenge game. That team came in and kicked your ass on home ice and they are coming back for another game tomorrow night. If they get curb stomped again then I guess there prolly is no need to make the playoffs cause they will just get waxed in 4 straight games.

I love how everyone on here seems to think that they really know what's going on behind the scenes.

The authority? Sure. But it would be an idiotic move to remove the coach from some of these decisions. They have to work as a team. Different focus but they absolutely have a huge impact on each other. So the "real man" comments are kinda ludicrous in my opinion. I want my coach and GM working hand in glove as much as possible.
- FlyersGrace

If you have a situation where there is not a true leader by design, then do you have a leader? It also opens things up to power struggles and who can grab the biggest piece of the pie in terms of influence. I much prefer a clear established hierarchy with one person having final say. A coach should certainly have influence and a voice but not as much as Tortorella has. In my opinion, as long as Tortorella is this heavily entrenched. The Flyers are going nowhere.

Maybe but with the cap crunch, he's the kind of guy that winds up without any offers.
- MJL

do you have any examples of that kind of guy not getting any offers?

as E said, he will get a 1 year 1 million per deal rather easily. It can then be buried if it doesnt work out.

If you have a situation where there is not a true leader by design, then do you have a leader? It also opens things up to power struggles and who can grab the biggest piece of the pie in terms of influence. I much prefer a clear established hierarchy with one person having final say. A coach should certainly have influence and a voice but not as much as Tortorella has. In my opinion, as long as Tortorella is this heavily entrenched. The Flyers are going nowhere.
- MJL

Are you behind the scenes? Do you know these things as fact? I think not!!

Cap is going up next season, unless everything I’ve heard is incorrect.
- BiggE

Yes but half the teams in the league are in LTIR and need to re-sign players with raises. There are only so many openings.

I love how everyone on here seems to think that they really know what's going on behind the scenes.
- Phillywhiteout

You're one of the same guys who said the same thing when the people who know what is going on were detailing the issues with the alumni and the country club was too involved. We wound up being proven right and you wrong. How many times do you have to be wrong? You'd think you'd learn by now.

Agreed. Whether it’s bad attitude or decline in play, Johansen has one year left on his deal and his 13 goals would be tied for 5th on the team. I think at minimum you have to give him a look. Refusing to do so says to me, Torts didn’t like a 23 year old Johansen, why would he want a 31 year old Johansen, which I think is unfair. Totally different story if Johansen was a UFA this summer.
- Roenick37

Again, we are just jumping to conclusions here, its Tort's fault, everything is Tort's fault, it has to be Torts! I guess it has nothing to do with the fact that Jones to Torts have all stated several times how much they like the locker room right now and that there might be a concern injecting a player like RJ who has a history of disrupting locker rooms?

Are you behind the scenes? Do you know these things as fact? I think not!!

- Phillywhiteout

Open your eyes and look!

That's the rub. They are making decisions as a group right now. Danny needs to win the power struggle if he wants to be the guy.
- mickel25

what would happen if danny wanted to fire him. would love to see how that would shake out.

I think they can manage about 3 points during this stretch. One overtime loss and sneak a victory somewhere. Let’s not forget they played one of the top teams (Boston) pretty well, with the exception of a 3-4 minute span. That’s more than Toronto does against them and they’re supposed to be cup contenders. They practically lay down vs the Bruins with each meeting, think they lost 7 straight to them. Maybe I’m hoping for a miracle but, like you said the other teams are crapping the bed too. Tough task for sure, but they have won games this season against some of the better clubs.
- Laceemup88

I am going to a make prediction, I say the Flyers beat Toronto and Boston this week. I really like the way the Flyers competed against Boston on Saturday. If Walker and Seeler were in the lineup and Ersson was on top of his game, the Flyers would have won that game easily. Except for Boston's 6th goal which IMO was on Sandstrom, every other goal against was due to a defensive break down. Attard was just pushed around the entire game for example.

If you have a situation where there is not a true leader by design, then do you have a leader? It also opens things up to power struggles and who can grab the biggest piece of the pie in terms of influence. I much prefer a clear established hierarchy with one person having final say. A coach should certainly have influence and a voice but not as much as Tortorella has. In my opinion, as long as Tortorella is this heavily entrenched. The Flyers are going nowhere.
- MJL

You're right, because since Torts has been with the Flyers his track record has clearly shown that he doesn't know how to build a winning team and push the right buttons to get the most of his players, never mind the multitude of players that have thrived under this coaching.

Don't you get tired typing this BS every single day?

They got a first round pick for a throw in salary dump. There was gonna be some kinda baggage. Look at the other deals made at the deadline. Def a buyers market. How many first rounders or top prospects were even traded..? Flyers weaponized their cap space and I have no complaints other than I need a back up in here. To have this roster not be rewarded with decent goaltending is kinda criminal considering how hard they have worked this year. Right now Kolosov should get this spring and all of next yr in Lehigh and make the team the following year. Until then they need a back up for Ersson or even a 1 B for him. Yes, we got a decent period of back up goaltending on Sat night, but thats been really it since Hart left.
- 26912 PP1

i see the flyers overpaying on a backup. that being said the direction they are going they do need a capable backup who can also possibly start.

I am going to a make prediction, I say the Flyers beat Toronto and Boston this week. I really like the way the Flyers competed against Boston on Saturday. If Walker and Seeler were in the lineup and Ersson was on top of his game, the Flyers would have won that game easily. Except for Boston's 6th goal which IMO was on Sandstrom, every other goal against was due to a defensive break down. Attard was just pushed around the entire game for example.
- jd250

It doesn't matter how well you compete if your team defense is that bad. You're wrong about Attard. For example you incorrectly blamed him on the goal off the faceoff when it was Staal and Konecny that blew the coverage. You constantly live in a fantasy world of ifs.

Again, we are just jumping to conclusions here, its Tort's fault, everything is Tort's fault, it has to be Torts! I guess it has nothing to do with the fact that Jones to Torts have all stated several times how much they like the locker room right now and that there might be a concern injecting a player like RJ who has a history of disrupting locker rooms?
- jd250

the your "room" isnt strong to begin with if your frightened by 1 player.

I am going to a make prediction, I say the Flyers beat Toronto and Boston this week. I really like the way the Flyers competed against Boston on Saturday. If Walker and Seeler were in the lineup and Ersson was on top of his game, the Flyers would have won that game easily. Except for Boston's 6th goal which IMO was on Sandstrom, every other goal against was due to a defensive break down. Attard was just pushed around the entire game for example.
- jd250

lol...do you think maybe just maybe boston also plays differently is those 3 studs were in the lineup?

I think that is just a way to avoid the topic of the past history between the two.
- MJL

I doubt that. He probably thinks he can still play and wouldn’t want to spend one of if not his last year of hockey on LTIR or in the minors.

You're right, because since Torts has been with the Flyers his track record has clearly shown that he doesn't know how to build a winning team and push the right buttons to get the most of his players, never mind the multitude of players that have thrived under this coaching.

Don't you get tired typing this BS every single day?
- jd250

what winning team has he built? what rights buttons has he pushed? please give some detailed answers.

who has thrived?