okay, so flip the tables here: You have a Captain of the Team and established veteran who is getting benched. Maybe, just maybe the Culture Czar should have addressed the media instead of having his Asst answer the tough questions. Its not like Coots is lighting the world on fire and I think everyone agrees he is struggling. It is how Torts handled the benching. He speaks of the standard but what is the standard to him? Run and hide from the media!?!?!? How is that being accountable?

If he is not communicating w the Captain how is that being the "standard"?
- Flyfly

Put ourselves in Couturier's shoes. He has been a player that has given everything to this team. Played in numerous roles and has always been a player that has played the right way, been a leader, and a player that has always shown character and played the right way in all facets of the game. Led by example on and off the ice. Had a serious injury and has been working his way back after missing almost two full seasons. Knows that he is struggling but is still working to get back. Was just recently named the team captain. With all that being said, the head coach doesn't even have the respect to go to the play and talk to him about it? That's not a coach I want coaching my team. He has a lack of respect. On top of the flat out lies that Tortorella makes that he values relationships with players and how important they are to him.

bottom 10-13 not so sure it was bottom 5 though. no one is sayin he hasnt done some good

they have played about as well as you can expect and it still isn't anywhere near good enough to win a cup. that's should be the tell tale sign to the people making the decisions.
- hello it's me 2050

I agree…they can’t lose site of where they are in the process…ok, culture is better. Room is tight….but they still need to add talent while keeping the positives that they have accumulated….not easy or a forgone conclusion they can do this….it’s early.

They don’t have a ton of talent. And they have virtually no top end talent. No one that can dominate a game. Makes this year more impressive.
- Flyers1218

not sure I agree with it when you take into account all the factors. doesn't discount what they have done though.

this team is headed on a usual road to nowhere. I would expect a drop off next season.

I agree…they can’t lose site of where they are in the process…ok, culture is better. Room is tight….but they still need to add talent while keeping the positives that they have accumulated….not easy or a forgone conclusion they can do this….it’s early.
- landros 2

maybe not anymore!!!

You first. Go find me projections that had them bottom 5. Look at the roster. It's not a bottom 5 roster.
- MJL

https://www.usatoday.com/...23-24-season/71040397007/

https://www.sportingnews..../2873ae79e443a9d80e389f4e

https://thehockeynews.com...n-and-gathering-reactions

maybe not anymore!!!
- hello it's me 2050

True….those things can come and go.

You first. Go find me projections that had them bottom 5. Look at the roster. It's not a bottom 5 roster.
- MJL

you first lol...cliff the turd

Quickly rolling downhill? If you say so. Like I said. The narratives are out today. If his name wasn’t Couterier no one would care.
- Flyers1218

There are always narratives. You don't have a narrative? You repeatedly dismiss facts given to you because it doesn't fit your narrative. You're right, if it wasn't Couturier it would be different. He is not just another player. He has earned and deserves a level of respect and better treatment from this coach. He is different from other players and it has always been that way in the NHL.

I thought there were some games in there that he played pretty good. Over all his play has dipped since his return….after missing a couple of games…but after two years off, I’m not sure anyone should be surprised that there were going to be times when he was going to struggle.
- landros 2

Absolutely. I’m not blaming him. The hope has to be he will get better or he may have one of the worst contracts in hockey.

But they need more out of him. And it’s not happening. I’m not against him sitting and getting a reset.

As for the guys that also struggled and didn’t get scratched… it’s pretty obvious. They are more dangerous players than Coots is at this point and each is capable of going on a hot streak/another level that Coots probably isn’t.

Put ourselves in Couturier's shoes. He has been a player that has given everything to this team. Played in numerous roles and has always been a player that has played the right way, been a leader, and a player that has always shown character and played the right way in all facets of the game. Led by example on and off the ice. Had a serious injury and has been working his way back after missing almost two full seasons. Knows that he is struggling but is still working to get back. Was just recently named the team captain. With all that being said, the head coach doesn't even have the respect to go to the play and talk to him about it? That's not a coach I want coaching my team. He has a lack of respect. On top of the flat out lies that Tortorella makes that he values relationships with players and how important they are to him.
- MJL

Agree with everything here!

I am not claiming Coots is playing well. As you say - it is the lack of communication and respect for your Captain. Who knows, maybe Torts did not want him to be Captain and Jonesy and DB made him. Either way the lack of respect for a player that has given everything to the franchise is astounding.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2023/10/10/nhl-record-predictions-points-2023-24-season/71040397007/

https://www.sportingnews..../2873ae79e443a9d80e389f4e

https://thehockeynews.com...n-and-gathering-reactions
- Peter Richards

I guess that’s why we play the games.

There are always narratives. You don't have a narrative? You repeatedly dismiss facts given to you because it doesn't fit your narrative. You're right, if it wasn't Couturier it would be different. He is not just another player. He has earned and deserves a level of respect and better treatment from this coach. He is different from other players and it has always been that way in the NHL.
- MJL

Not to mention Couturier is the epitome of the "standard" you are trying to establish. 14 years of proof.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2023/10/10/nhl-record-predictions-points-2023-24-season/71040397007/

https://www.sportingnews..../2873ae79e443a9d80e389f4e

https://thehockeynews.com...n-and-gathering-reactions
- Peter Richards

Are you helping me here? All of those have them last and the first one has them bottom 5.

So does he scratch him again Thursday? Or was one game enough for Couturier to figure out what this coach wants?



- J35Bacher

He owes it to the guys on the ice last night not to make any changes

They don’t have a ton of talent. And they have virtually no top end talent. No one that can dominate a game. Makes this year more impressive.
- Flyers1218

The Flyers are effectively one game above .500.

Absolutely. I’m not blaming him. The hope has to be he will get better or he may have one of the worst contracts in hockey.

But they need more out of him. And it’s not happening. I’m not against him sitting and getting a reset.

As for the guys that also struggled and didn’t get scratched… it’s pretty obvious. They are more dangerous players than Coots is at this point and each is capable of going on a hot streak/another level that Coots probably isn’t.
- Flyers1218

The best thing for Coots coming back this year was to monitor his ice time throughout the season and not run him out there for 19 - 20 mins a night for two thirds of the season after missing 2 years of hockey.


I don't think it is a skating or talent issue whatsoever. I think he is gassed and that is on the Coaches.

Not to mention Couturier is the epitome of the "standard" you are trying to establish. 14 years of proof.
- mickel25

I agree. But I also don’t think that means that he should be impervious to sitting if he’s not performing.

The Flyers are effectively one game above .500.
- MJL

The fact that they are where they are is a borderline miracle.

I credit the players and the coaching staff.

Absolutely. I’m not blaming him. The hope has to be he will get better or he may have one of the worst contracts in hockey.

But they need more out of him. And it’s not happening. I’m not against him sitting and getting a reset.

As for the guys that also struggled and didn’t get scratched… it’s pretty obvious. They are more dangerous players than Coots is at this point and each is capable of going on a hot streak/another level that Coots probably isn’t.
- Flyers1218

None of those players have done anything close to what Couturier has done in his career so how are they more capable? The best thing for this team is for Couturier to be allowed to play his way through this. Just like Giroux was when he struggled for a full season after hip surgery.

I guess that’s why we play the games.
- landros 2

correct. it was stated that no one had them in the bottom at the beginning of the year. simple not true

The fact that they are where they are is a borderline miracle.

I credit the players and the coaching staff.
- Flyers1218

No, it's really not. Have to look at other aspects such as the Devils faltering this season.

The fact that they are where they are is a borderline miracle.

I credit the players and the coaching staff.
- Flyers1218

Torts has done some good things and I don't think anyone is taking that away from him. But, look at the rest of the division and tell me it isn't trash. They have played w more structure and discipline - all good things. At the end of the day they are a .500 team in a terrible division with most teams not meeting expectations.

Are you helping me here? All of those have them last and the first one has them bottom 5.
- Flyers1218

correct. i'll wait to see who had them finishing higher.

I agree. But I also don’t think that means that he should be impervious to sitting if he’s not performing.
- Flyers1218

You have plenty of players that have not performed and do not carry themselves as close to the standard as Coots does. Hence the outrage.

correct. i'll wait to see who had them finishing higher.
- Peter Richards

I did. But is 8-10 worst really better?