Different players and different positions on the team. Apples to oranges. How many games was he actually on the the line with them, 1-2 maybe? Coots needs to be better, and the health scratch hopefully was a kick in the rear.
- Flyerz74

In all fairness Couturier was placed on the fourth line and brought right back up in the line up before getting scratched. We should be more focused on the result of the game, which we should have lost, but once again the player comes before the team.

Different players and different positions on the team. Apples to oranges.
- Flyerz74

Forward to forward, actually.

No sane person can think a line with Deslauriers and Cates will help the Flyers more than a line with Cates and Couturier on it.

He got 17:16 TOI in the win over Florida. Played damn well in that game and there was no choice but to increase his ice time.

Game in Tampa was a COLLECTIVE dud. Cant' really fairly assess any individual player because it was such a debacle.

Game against San Jose, he OK. Certainly didn't hurt the team. Won 6 of 9 draws, went to the net a few times, won some battles down low. Came close to a goal at one point. Played 14:28.

Loss to Toronto: Team itself got blown out. Couturier, in my opinion, was one of the Flyers' better forwards. It was a rough night for Laughton and for Poehling (who had a rare-of-late rough game and was also under the weather). Couturier was fine in his 16:10 TOI. Not great. Not overwhelming. But far from a liability.

Game in Boston: There was zero justification for Couturier playing the least ice time of any forward other than Deslauriers. Played well, I thought, even apart from the play behind the net that created the rare Deslauriers goal.

If you want to talk about the six-week stretch from Couturier's mid-January injury absence return through early March, yes, he struggled horribly for most of that duration. Lately, though, no. He was starting to trend back upward, slowly but surely,
- bmeltzer

Frost 2.0, Torts likes going after the quiet players, doesn't seem like Coots says much, he doesn't play a physical game, check box #2 for Torts. Torts ego is the most important thing to him, he needs to be the chief, his way or the highway. A shame really, for most of the season he has the team playing well and they play fast. ND playing in any minutes, just ridiculous. Coots not quick enough is the story but ND blazing fast, NHL pace. What a joke.

Frost 2.0, Torts likes going after the quiet players, doesn't seem like Coots says much, he doesn't play a physical game, check box #2 for Torts. Torts ego is the most important thing to him, he needs to be the chief, his way or the highway. A shame really, for most of the season he has the team playing well and they play fast. ND playing in any minutes, just ridiculous. Coots not quick enough is the story but ND blazing fast, NHL pace. What a joke.
- wcorvette

It is just ridiculous that Torts refuses to address the situation. It is only making the situation more nefarious. This is not going to end well if he keeps Couts on the bench.

It is just ridiculous that Torts refuses to address the situation. It is only making the situation more nefarious. This is not going to end well if he keeps Couts on the bench.
- Flyfly

1 game and Torts is the bad guy, news on him not the team losing, two games, just ego.

1 game and Torts is the bad guy, news on him not the team losing, two games, just ego.
- wcorvette

agreed

Forward to forward, actually.

No sane person can think a line with Deslauriers and Cates will help the Flyers more than a line with Cates and Couturier on it.
- Feanor

Couturier should be playing in the top six but he should also be playing like he belongs there. This has nothing to do with Nick Deslauriers.

It is just ridiculous that Torts refuses to address the situation. It is only making the situation more nefarious. This is not going to end well if he keeps Couts on the bench.
- Flyfly

This was said early in the season about Morgan Frost. Call down, people. Coots isn’t sitting forever.

This was said early in the season about Morgan Frost. Call down, people. Coots isn’t sitting forever.
- roenick97

History of Torts tells us differently...

History of Torts tells us differently...
- Flyfly

So you think Couturier is going to sit forever?

So you think Couturier is going to sit forever?
- roenick97

No but history tells us that Torts has a penchant for these head games w certain players and it never ends well.

Personally, I dont think he need a kick in the rear. I think he is gassed from playing 20 mins a night out of the gate after 2 years away from the ice. The smart thing would have been monitoring minutes so he has the legs during crunch time.

His faceoff acumen should be another reason he starts.

It is not apples and oranges - Would you rather have Couts or ND in the lineup?
- Flyfly

I agree with all of this. I had no problem with Coots sitting one game for a reset, but in the playoff picture, there's no way we benefit from ND and his 5-6 minutes over Coots even if Coots is a bit banged up. I like ND and fighting in hockey, and have no problem with him playing on occasion. If we make the playoffs, however, I don't want him out there at all.

No but history tells us that Torts has a penchant for these head games w certain players and it never ends well.
- Flyfly

Than maybe these players need to be mentally stronger.

Judging by the hair style…late 80’s?
- roenick97

Late 80s-early 90s was its run I believe

I agree with all of this. I had no problem with Coots sitting one game for a reset, but in the playoff picture, there's no way we benefit from ND and his 5-6 minutes over Coots even if Coots is a bit banged up. I like ND and fighting in hockey, and have no problem with him playing on occasion. If we make the playoffs, however, I don't want him out there at all.
- Don Nachbaur

I think all of this is reasonable. I just don’t understand why it’s always an extreme argument. Nick D shouldn’t be playing ahead of Couturier. Tippett isn’t better than Morgan Frost. There’s always a reason to drag another name into the argument.

I agree with all of this. I had no problem with Coots sitting one game for a reset, but in the playoff picture, there's no way we benefit from ND and his 5-6 minutes over Coots even if Coots is a bit banged up. I like ND and fighting in hockey, and have no problem with him playing on occasion. If we make the playoffs, however, I don't want him out there at all.
- Don Nachbaur

Agree - even if he is struggling (and he is) he is still better defensively and on the dot than most of the team. Again, I am not a Torts hater but I just disagree with this move just like Frost earlier in the year.

Late 80s-early 90s was its run I believe
- funmaster18

If this is true, I wasn’t even double digits in age yet.

Personally, I dont think he need a kick in the rear. I think he is gassed from playing 20 mins a night out of the gate after 2 years away from the ice. The smart thing would have been monitoring minutes so he has the legs during crunch time.

His faceoff acumen should be another reason he starts.

It is not apples and oranges - Would you rather have Couts or ND in the lineup?
- Flyfly

Rather have Coots, but Coots ain't fighting Reaves. So there was a reason for ND to be in the game. I also give coots some slack, I can't imagine what the back surgeries have done to him. He's probably spent from the first 70 games in 2 years.

I think all of this is reasonable. I just don’t understand why it’s always an extreme argument. Nick D shouldn’t be playing ahead of Couturier. Tippett isn’t better than Morgan Frost. There’s always a reason to drag another name into the argument.
- roenick97

There are always comparisons. You should ice the best forward group you have. Defensively and on faceoffs he still provides more than half the starting lineup.

This was said early in the season about Morgan Frost. Call down, people. Coots isn’t sitting forever.
- roenick97

I'd like to think Coots will be back in Saturday against Boston if we lose tonight. Day game + Bruins = could be ugly!

Makes complete sense. They miss Coots from the first 31 games. They need him to step up his game.

You hold players hands, I don't.

Do we know if Coots has spoken with Torts like Frost has?
- WhiskeyMan

Again, not making any sense. It's now game what 70? Game 31 was a long time ago. 29 games in between. If Couturier is hurting the team, how is removing him going to show that the team is missing him? LOL. Was the same not present in the 29 games in between?

The holding players hands is an asinine comment. Again, even in a reduced role, Couturier is better then other players who remain in the lineup. Scratching him serves zero purpose. It's not putting the best lineup on the ice.

It is Tortorella's responsibility to communicate to his players. Not the players responsibility to have to request a meeting with the coach like in the Frost situation.

Rather have Coots, but Coots ain't fighting Reaves. So there was a reason for ND to be in the game. I also give coots some slack, I can't imagine what the back surgeries have done to him. He's probably spent from the first 70 games in 2 years.
- Flyerz74

Agree there...

I'd like to think Coots will be back in Saturday against Boston if we lose tonight. Day game + Bruins = could be ugly!
- Don Nachbaur

I’d like to see him tonight but I’ll settle for Saturday.

Even The Athletic, which is kinda shocking. They love Torts in the comments section.

HB is just about the only place I've seen where people don't have kool aid coming out of their ears.
- Tomahawk

It's a fanbase that is so starved for winning that it can't see the Forrest though the trees.

I think all of this is reasonable. I just don’t understand why it’s always an extreme argument. Nick D shouldn’t be playing ahead of Couturier. Tippett isn’t better than Morgan Frost. There’s always a reason to drag another name into the argument.
- roenick97

Uh oh.....don't get started about Frosty! Been a busy week so trying to catch up and to my surprise, saw a "discussion" about Frosty earlier from the last blog! Shocking!