I think the team goal is to be the 3rd most improved team instead of 5th
- corduroy

Where did they finish up in that ranking? I looked, I couldn't find those standings.

It's like when Babs scratched Modano for his 1500th game, guaranteeing he'd be stuck at 1499. He basically lost the Wings' room after he did that.

Players will stand up for each other.
- Tomahawk

Just not even in the same stratosphere, monumental game verse a Tuesday in Calgary

To me it sounds like Torts was pushing buttons on players to see which ones have heart and which ones are there for a paycheck. We found out who is who and now we need to get rid of 4 or 5 players and let the kids play next season.

Attard, Forester i would give a shot to and maybe lyksell in the bottom 6.

Don't sign anyone, and weaponize your cap space during the summer and at the TDL next year for picks. Take calls on any player on the team even Hart, this team is not going to compete in the next 5 to 7 years so load up on high end picks and once you have your core then go after a few vets to fill in slots.

Identify positions of need, Center, RHD, and a Sniper are 3 that come to mind. Don't just take the best player available, take the player the team needs for the future success.


Main thing is patience, this needs to be torn down to the ground. Will they do it?I know they should but will comcast allow it?
- Flyerloon

I think they need to make trades for picks and sign players to 1 year contracts so we can flip them at the deadline to get more picks.

Just not even in the same stratosphere, monumental game verse a Tuesday in Calgary
- ClaudeFather

A game can be of less personal importance to a player and still be personally important to a player.

A coach can't scratch the player in a different game to show he is in charge? He did try and use it to send a message. It was petty, unprofessional and its mistreatment of a player. Tortorella clearly craves and wants conflict. He is not only a mediocre coach but he is a damaged person.
- MJL

To be honest, this has crossed my mind a few times this year. I hope you are wrong.

Just not even in the same stratosphere, monumental game verse a Tuesday in Calgary
- ClaudeFather

It's the Richardness of the move, not the actual importance of the game being missed.

A game can be of less personal importance to a player and still be personally important to a player.
- MJL

That’s fine, he was scratched in his hometown. Deal with it.

It's the Richardness of the move, not the actual importance of the game being missed.
- Tomahawk

And maybe it was a Frank you to the player, I have no issue with that.

Where did they finish up in that ranking? I looked, I couldn't find those standings.
- MJL

Too much math involved for me to care to figure it out

That’s fine, he was scratched in his hometown. Deal with it.
- ClaudeFather

Dude... you have no empathy.

Dude... you have no empathy.
- Tomahawk

Lol come on, yea it was definitely a gut punch. We really gonna sit here 6 months later and talk about this? Do you think Sanheim still thinks about this? He sucked this year, he should look in the mirror and get his game together.

That’s fine, he was scratched in his hometown. Deal with it.
- ClaudeFather

Deal with it is not an intelligent response. The coach was being a complete bumhole by doing what he did.

Deal with it is not an intelligent response. The coach was being a complete bumhole by doing what he did.
- MJL

Crying about it 6 months later doesn’t come off as very intelligent either there bud, mountain out of a mole hill

Lol come on, yea it was definitely a gut punch. We really gonna sit here 6 months later and talk about this? Do you think Sanheim still thinks about this? He sucked this year, he should look in the mirror and get his game together.
- ClaudeFather

Yes, I think there is a possibility that Sanheim has some animosity about it. These perceived "small" things can be cumulative. Piss off enough players and the team revolts. Let's not forget that Tortorella's plan is to get rid of all the potential "revolters" To remove the players that he doesn't think get it. Do you see the issue here?

Crying about it 6 months later doesn’t come off as very intelligent either there bud, mountain out of a mole hill
- ClaudeFather

Your description of it is asinine. It is part of the subject matter and relevant to the blog. Let me know what the statute of limitations is for discussing something this off season. How far back can we go and look at a situation? You aren't thinking clearly.

Lol come on, yea it was definitely a gut punch. We really gonna sit here 6 months later and talk about this? Do you think Sanheim still thinks about this? He sucked this year, he should look in the mirror and get his game together.
- ClaudeFather

Just put yourself in his shoes.

You've invited dozens of your friends and family to the game. All the people who've supported and made personal/financial sacrifices along the way so you could realize your dream of playing in the NHL. They want to be there for you, to honor your journey and success. Some have traveled some distance and at some expense to be there that night.

Then, out of the blue, you're announced as a healthy scratch.

You're in the room, heated and humiliated.... wondering what your family and friends are feeling in the stands, how confused and distraught your parents and grandparents must be that you're not on the ice. You're imagining the awkwardness of having to go up into the stands after the game to explain to each and every one of them what happened. You're imagining how uncomfortable the post-game family dinner is gonna be, how the night was effectively spoiled for everyone, not just yourself.

Yeah, it's not the kind of thing you just shrug off and forget.

Yes, I think there is a possibility that Sanheim has some animosity about it. These perceived "small" things can be cumulative. Piss off enough players and the team revolts. Let's not forget that Tortorella's plan is to get rid of all the potential "revolters" To remove the players that he doesn't think get it. Do you see the issue here?
- MJL

Who do you think those players are? Is it who or whom?

Who do you think those players are? Is it who or whom?
- mickel25

It will definitely be multiple players. Just look at the comments he made during the season about Frost? Read between the lines. Look at Tortorella's history.

Just put yourself in his shoes.

You've invited dozens of your friends and family to the game. All the people who've supported and made personal/financial sacrifices along the way so you could realize your dream of playing in the NHL. They want to be there for you, to honor your journey and success. Some have traveled some distance and at some expense to be there that night.

Then, out of the blue, you're announced as a healthy scratch.

You're in the room, heated and humiliated.... wondering what your family and friends are feeling in the stands, how confused and distraught your parents and grandparents must be that you're not on the ice. You're imagining the awkwardness of having to go up into the stands after the game to explain to each and every one of them what happened. You're imagining how uncomfortable the post-game family dinner is gonna be, how the night was effectively spoiled for everyone, not just yourself.

Yeah, it's not the kind of thing you just shrug off and forget.
- Tomahawk

And the guy makes $6M per year to deal with it. Not saying he shouldn’t have been pissed off, I hope he would be

It will definitely be multiple players. Just look at the comments he made during the season about Frost? Read between the lines. Look at Tortorella's history.
- MJL

So Hayes and TA?

OMG .. that is what you call mistreatment? Do you know what happened that prompted the respective benchings? Were you in the locker room? Perhaps both players didn't take his coaching? Perhaps both players didn't come to see Torts and have it out with him? Perhaps both players needed a kick in the arse and that was the best way to do it? I don't know if this is true or not, but to call being benched as mistreatment is exactly the attitude that entitles today's professional athlete, and its wrong IMO.
- jd250

I like the wording he always uses. Goes on and on that Risto is a mediocre player, and now Sanheim is a good player that is mistreated. Where is the line drawn between mediocre and good ?

And the guy makes $6M per year to deal with it. Not saying he shouldn’t have been pissed off, I hope he would be
- ClaudeFather

And he likely wasn't the only one pissed off by it in the room. All the players took notice, especially since it happened twice this season.

Torts can female dog and moan about the youth of today all he wants but respect has always been a two way street.

So Hayes and TA?
- mickel25

For now but I think there will be more. Tortorella having strong influence over who is his kind of player and having the ear of the GM, is a very frightening thing for the Flyers future in my opinion.

For now but I think there will be more. Tortorella having strong influence over who is his kind of player and having the ear of the GM, is a very frightening thing for the Flyers future in my opinion.
- MJL

I generally agree with you. I want the GM to stand on his own. Of course the coach and the GM should work together. But the GM 100% has the final say. Not sure I would want the GM job if I did not have that.

I generally agree with you. I want the GM to stand on his own. Of course the coach and the GM should work together. But the GM 100% has the final say. Not sure I would want the GM job if I did not have that.
- mickel25

Agreed.