Yeah there is. They aren’t a super talented team that has been playing over their heads. Coach gets no credit for that because he benched Coots.

He’s not allowed to bench Coots, “because he works hard and puts the team first.” He also hasn’t produced.
- Flyers1218

it also doesn't get mentioned enough how the other teams below them have just flat out schitt the bed all year. That is also a a very huge part of where they are at in the standings.

Yeah there is. They aren’t a super talented team that has been playing over their heads. Coach gets no credit for that because he benched Coots.

He’s not allowed to bench Coots, “because he works hard and puts the team first.” He also hasn’t produced.
- Flyers1218

It's not about if he's allowed to. He is the coach, he is allowed to do what he wants to do with the lineup. It's about if it is smart. It's about if wasting that bullet is going to be productive and using up that coaching capital is going to be worth it. It's not.

it also doesn't get mentioned enough how the other teams below them have just flat out schitt the bed all year. That is also a a very huge part of where they are at in the standings.
- hello it's me 2050

Maybe the teams below them, that seem to have more pure talent, need a coach like Torts?

Two. Toronto hit four.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill!

Who has played as consistently poorly as Coots over the last few months? The writers are trying to find excuses for him, that’s how bad he’s been. The only guy worse is Atkinson. He’s been benched. Nick D… benched. Staal… benched.

Guys are going to have good games and bad games. But the guys that have mostly been bad have been sitting.

The only one I don’t like is Brink. He needs to play.
- Flyers1218

How many of those players missed two years of hockey due to a major injury. How many of those players were overplayed by the coach in the first half of the season coming off of a major injury? How many of those players have fairly recently been a 70 point Selke winning center. How many of those players are the team captain signed to a long term contract?

How many of those players missed two years of hockey due to a major injury. How many of those players were overplayed by the coach in the first half of the season coming off of a major injury? How many of those players have fairly recently been a 70 point Selke winning center. How many of those players are the team captain signed to a long term contract?
- MJL

I will say there was a point in the season Scott Laughton was awful and taking terrible penalties and not producing. He didn't get scratched.

And for Torts to not answer questions about it in the presser bush league. You make a move like that then you show accountability and answer the questions.

The agent is speaking out now:



https://theathletic.com/5...-scratch-john-tortorella/
- Tomahawk

Torts is gonna torts... If true, and based on prior actions it most likely is, it is absolutely ridiculous that a HC is not communicating with his Captain.

He’s won a Stanley Cup. So he wins.
- Flyers1218

20 years ago, but ok.

While I may not agree with Coots getting scratched, I'm not as outraged. From a faceoff standpoint, we needed him last night but you still have to ask how much Coots would have helped in that department. The Leafs crushed us at the dot. Now from the standpoint of overall play, Coots has been bad since having the "C" slapped on his chest. The guy has skated into his own teammates multiple times. I'm not even sure there's a highlight of him scoring as captain yet.

Again, not agreeing but Coots needs to be better.
- roenick97

As per my post, we got absolutely destroyed at the dot. I think it was Bill that posted on a recent blog that he had been improving in that area over the last stretch. Can't remember the exact numbers but it was better than 38%!

I will say there was a point in the season Scott Laughton was awful and taking terrible penalties and not producing. He didn't get scratched.

And for Torts to not answer questions about it in the presser bush league. You make a move like that then you show accountability and answer the questions.
- J35Bacher

How about him sending out Rocky Thompson for the pre-game presser? Clown move.

How many of those players missed two years of hockey due to a major injury. How many of those players were overplayed by the coach in the first half of the season coming off of a major injury? How many of those players have fairly recently been a 70 point Selke winning center. How many of those players are the team captain signed to a long term contract?
- MJL

Thank you. So he can’t be scratched because of his reputation and his injury recovery despite not producing for months?

Who has played as consistently poorly as Coots over the last few months? The writers are trying to find excuses for him, that’s how bad he’s been. The only guy worse is Atkinson. He’s been benched. Nick D… benched. Staal… benched.

Guys are going to have good games and bad games. But the guys that have mostly been bad have been sitting.

The only one I don’t like is Brink. He needs to play.
- Flyers1218

Laughton, Farabee and Foerster went how many games without scoring a goal? When was the last time Cates did anything other than forecheck well? Dude has 9 points in the last 40 games. When will he be scratched?

I will say there was a point in the season Scott Laughton was awful and taking terrible penalties and not producing. He didn't get scratched.

And for Torts to not answer questions about it in the presser bush league. You make a move like that then you show accountability and answer the questions.
- J35Bacher

His ice time was cut dramatically. Then he started producing.

Yeah I think Torts is donezo after this season. I have never seen Coots as upset as he was when he spoke to the media yesterday. Torts clearly crossed a line. If Coots pushes hard enough I think Torts is done as the coach.
- mickel25

I wouldn't lose sleep over it if he were to be canned. At the same time I absolutely think he will be back next year.

The thing that drives me nuts is that Torts didn't even address the situation. He did not speak to the media and threw Shaw to the wolves to answer the questions. Childish at the least... If your going to bench your Captain then have the balls to address it with the media.

I never liked the decision to Bench our captain….but the whole reason is to give the team a jolt IMO. Torts is always trying to take guys out of their comfort zone. Mission accomplished. Will it work long term ? No. I think everyone agrees Coots needs to be better and this is the coach using his methods to drag it out of him.
Torts doesn’t give a flying fack what anyone thinks of his methods….never has ….never will.
By benching this guy I would think every single player realizes they are not immune to such treatment which is the intent of the benching. The benching serves both short and long term goals….whether it works or not is anyone’s guess…but no one can suggest Coot’s at 70% is still not a top 12 forward on this team every night.
- landros 2

I wonder if he'll be scratched again in view of the fact that they won last night.. barely.. I really hope he comes back next game so we can put this foolishness behind us. If the plan was to give him a short rest/reset before the stretch run, that's fine, but say that.

Laughton, Farabee and Foerster went how many games without scoring a goal? When was the last time Cates did anything other than forecheck well? Dude has 9 points in the last 40 games. When will he be scratched?
- mickel25

Laughton had his ice time cut. Cates has been dropped to the fourth line. I’m sure a scratch was headed his way. Farabee and Foerster aren’t on one goal in like 30 games stretches.

I will say there was a point in the season Scott Laughton was awful and taking terrible penalties and not producing. He didn't get scratched.

And for Torts to not answer questions about it in the presser bush league. You make a move like that then you show accountability and answer the questions.
- J35Bacher

Exactly. That's what I have a problem with. Laughton has had just as many struggles, but Torts loves him. It's not consistent for all players.

I will say there was a point in the season Scott Laughton was awful and taking terrible penalties and not producing. He didn't get scratched.

And for Torts to not answer questions about it in the presser bush league. You make a move like that then you show accountability and answer the questions.
- J35Bacher

Exactly, but we're told it's the same for every player and Tortorella is showing that any player can be scratched.

- StepfordSam

Yeah, cult.

Can’t wait to go back to John Stevens, AV, Hakstol, Mike Yeo…. where the inmates ran the asylum and the players lacked effort.

I don’t think anyone is questioning that Couturier has been struggling or even that he might benefit from time off. What many are questioning, and should be questioning is:

Why is there a lack of communication between Torts and Couts? Did Torts not want him named captain?

And, more importantly, who is running this organization? Torts? Briere? Jones?

No other Flyers HC has ever had any issues with Couturier, in fact they’ve all praised them highly. What is Tortorella’s issue? He’s on record saying it’s not effort and that he respects the player, so what is going on? Does Torts honestly believe that all 12 forwards in the lineup last night are all better players than Couts? Nic D? Cates at center? I find that pretty hard to believe.

Torts has a long track record of playing petty mind games with players. It might get him some short term success but in the long run it’s detrimental to the team.
- BiggE

Well said! Torts is the "Culture Czar" for the Flyers

Well said! Torts is the "Culture Czar" for the Flyers

- Flyfly

I like seeing the team play hard. I don’t care about their feelings. I watched enough lazy play to last a lifetime over the last decade.

I wonder if he'll be scratched again in view of the fact that they won last night.. barely.. I really hope he comes back next game so we can put this foolishness behind us. If the plan was to give him a short rest/reset before the stretch run, that's fine, but say that.
- Hextall271

I’m not sure….Torts is not the most predictable coach.

Thank you. So he can’t be scratched because of his reputation and his injury recovery despite not producing for months?
- Flyers1218

Not because of his reputation but because of his body of work, how he has given his heart and soul to this team in his entire career as a Flyer, the only team that he has played for. That he was willing to sign onto a long term deal on a team that really has no chance of wining a stanley cup in the near future. That he is a character player and a leader on this team that has always played the right way. That he is coming off of a serious injury where he missed most of two seasons and is trying to play his way back. That the scratching was not about a physical issue or believing that he needs a rest. That there is no value in it unless you're willing to alienate the player and potentially other players.

ND injured Reaves. So does that mean Reaves is officially the least useful player in the NHL?

Also, did ND help the Leafs by sidelining Reaves?
- mickel25

His 5:21 of ice time really set the stage for that win!

it also doesn't get mentioned enough how the other teams below them have just flat out schitt the bed all year. That is also a a very huge part of where they are at in the standings.
- hello it's me 2050

That’s true. But this team was projected for bottom 5. Maybe worse. They are in playoff position at the end of March.

Give credit where credit is due. The people not doing it are showing their motives.