"We want accountability" but not that type of accountability. It's hilarious, I love Coots and all but he isn't playing well lately, so have a seat and figure it out.
- Flyerz74

Your mistake is thinking that having a seat is going to be a conduit for a player to figure it out. It's simply lazy coaching from a coach that is out of bullets. He is a one trick pony.

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!
- Don Nachbaur

It's the never ending conversation starter

So who are the players on the roster who under no circumstance can never sit? Let’s throw those names out right now.
- roenick97

It's not that black and white. Since this team is in a playoff spot you want your best players out there regardless if they're in a rut.

If this team was Columbus bad yeah you can sit or shut down whomever you want.

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.
- Flyfly

I hear you! With the Defense struggling without Walker and Seeler (haven't seen enough of Drysdale), we need all the help up front that we can get. If they are serious about the playoffs, Coots should be in the lineup unless seriously injured.

It's the never ending conversation starter
- Flyfly

Lol it sure is! I hope Frosty is aware about how much attention he gets. He should be flattered.

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

Amazing. Here is a thought. Play the better player and nobody has to fight Reaves. Are you seriously going to say that the staged fight and Deslauriers 5 minutes of ice time was important to the team?

No what the coaches on the other team think when the Flyers play Deslauriers? Oh cool, when he is on the ice, the opposition team scores 70% of the goals.

It's not that black and white. Since this team is in a playoff spot you want your best players out there regardless if they're in a rut.

If this team was Columbus bad yeah you can sit or shut down whomever you want.
- Pelle31Forever

Well said - what people don't like to account for is nuance. Each situation contains its own nuance and I don't think it is the same across the board.

Torts has the right as the HC and I think we are all aware of this. But, as fans we have the right to question the organizations decisions. More than ever considering the last decade of slop.

Lol it sure is! I hope Frosty is aware about how much attention he gets. He should be flattered.
- Don Nachbaur

McSorely (stupid autocorrect)got 23 games (rest of the season) when he slashed Brasheer in the head. This should merit the rest of the season. Looked deliberate and with a lot of velocity. He should get 20 games including playoffs for that.

Torts will want to wait till they lose to get Coots back in, his MO. All that coming off a win that they could have just as easily lost.

Would be nice if the gutless coward of a coach would take a moment to justify his blatant disrespect for a 13 year vet who, according to EVERY previous Flyers coach, always gives max effort and played through numerous injuries.

And don’t give me any b.s. about how his play warrants it. Noah offense whatsoever Cates is not a better option at center nor does Nic D bring anything useful to the lineup.

Couts deserves to play, and Torts need to grow a pair and answer questions pertaining to this situation.

Briere needs to grow a pair too and demand that his HC face the music. And, if he lacks the power to do so, then he should publicly say so.

Culture indeed. Apparently Flyers culture is pettiness, disrespect and cowardice.
- BiggE

Good points and frankly if Coots is being held accountable for his very public benching, shouldn’t Torts be held accountable for this very public benching and at least explain why. I’d have more respect for the man of on a calm professional way he said “I’ve talked to him and while he doesn’t agree with me, I’m the coach. He needs to to x, y and x better. In my estimation he’s hurting the team not helping the team until he gets that stiff addressed”. Anything. But this pouty annoyed silence and refusal is what shows disrespect to the player, the fans, and the organization. It’s hypocritical to hold someone publicly accountable yet not hold yourself to the same standard.

PS the way he yelled at Brink in front of the whole world like a father screaming at his child, was also not professional and a public embarrassment.

Good points and frankly if Coots is being held accountable for his very public benching, shouldn’t Torts be held accountable for this very public benching and at least explain why. I’d have more respect for the man of on a calm professional way he said “I’ve talked to him and while he doesn’t agree with me, I’m the coach. He needs to to x, y and x better. In my estimation he’s hurting the team not helping the team until he gets that stiff addressed”. Anything. But this pouty annoyed silence and refusal is what shows disrespect to the player, the fans, and the organization. It’s hypocritical to hold someone publicly accountable yet not hold yourself to the same standard.

PS the way he yelled at Brink in front of the whole world like a father screaming at his child, was also not professional and a public embarrassment.
- mikeyo27

Very well said

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!
- Don Nachbaur

I’m a little over being called “stupid” or a delusional fan because I’m not as outraged as MJL and tomahawk. I guess I just have bigger things to worry about in life.

It's not that black and white. Since this team is in a playoff spot you want your best players out there regardless if they're in a rut.

If this team was Columbus bad yeah you can sit or shut down whomever you want.
- Pelle31Forever

It is this black and white. Brink and Frost can’t sit, they’re young developing players. Couturier can’t sit, he’s a 13 year old vet and Captain of the team.

On with the list. There is only a selective time of player you “embarrass”.

Coots play had nothing to do with the situation?
- WhiskeyMan

Torts losses either way. If he tell reporters details about the situation then he is “ not keeping thing in the room” if he doesn’t then he is “ not being transparent”
I’m somewhere in the middle in my opinion of Torts but this guy would be getting killed if he played veterans over young players one day and then gets killed for sitting a veteran in a 1 goal in 27 game streak.

If you’re a team in the playoff hunt it’s all about getting points if you want to make the playoffs.
Plus getting in with your young players would be even more beneficial. I’m betting Couturier is more mentally strong than he is being given credit for. He doesn’t have to like it but just like every winning player he will understand why it’s being done.

It is this black and white. Brink and Frost can’t sit, they’re young developing players. Couturier can’t sit, he’s a 13 year old vet and Captain of the team.

On with the list. There is only a selective time of player you “embarrass”.
- roenick97

Torts isn't teaching or coaching anyone in this situation. He is punishing a player whose play had dropped off because he wore him out. You think Coots doesn't know what he needs to do to be better? I guarantee there is nothing dinosaur Torts can tell him that he doesn't already know. Play better? Im sure Coots is like omg Torts, thanks for the input, now I see why they pay you the big bucks.

This isn't development, this isn't leadership, this is a guy with a limited bag of tricks who likes to play head games when what few coaching tools he has doesn't work. Torts needs to look in the mirror.

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

Couturiers play even when it’s a struggle is still not worthy of a healthy scratch. Add in he’s a newly minted captain. Add in he fought back after a 2 year absence. Add in his Selke play away from the puck his entire career does not scream a guy that doesn’t leave it all on the ice for games and practices.
If he’s struggling that bad then simply say Coots needs a bit of a break….which after 2 years off is not unrealistic….to frame the situation the way Torts has is a bad look for the organization.
To not take accountability for a situation the coach is responsible for is so Fukkin weak, especially when you preach accountability.

Torts isn't teaching or coaching anyone in this situation. He is punishing a player whose play had dropped off because he wore him out. You think Coots doesn't know what he needs to do to be better? I guarantee there is nothing dinosaur Torts can tell him that he doesn't already know. Play better? Im sure Coots is like omg Torts, thanks for the input, now I see why they pay you the big bucks.

This isn't development, this isn't leadership, this is a guy with a limited bag of tricks who likes to play head games when what few coaching tools he has doesn't work. Torts needs to look in the mirror.
- MBFlyerfan

Guys. Just list the players. Who can or cannot be scratched? As qualified coaches, what’s in your bag or tricks to spark the team?

I guess I’m just sick of listening to a bunch of Average Joe’s talk about how they could do better. Let’s call it what it is. None of you have ever coached an NHL team or developed young players. So let’s stop.

Good points and frankly if Coots is being held accountable for his very public benching, shouldn’t Torts be held accountable for this very public benching and at least explain why. I’d have more respect for the man of on a calm professional way he said “I’ve talked to him and while he doesn’t agree with me, I’m the coach. He needs to to x, y and x better. In my estimation he’s hurting the team not helping the team until he gets that stiff addressed”. Anything. But this pouty annoyed silence and refusal is what shows disrespect to the player, the fans, and the organization. It’s hypocritical to hold someone publicly accountable yet not hold yourself to the same standard.

PS the way he yelled at Brink in front of the whole world like a father screaming at his child, was also not professional and a public embarrassment.
- mikeyo27

I agree…Demand accountability yet not hold your own actions to that same level…just weak.

Good points and frankly if Coots is being held accountable for his very public benching, shouldn’t Torts be held accountable for this very public benching and at least explain why. I’d have more respect for the man of on a calm professional way he said “I’ve talked to him and while he doesn’t agree with me, I’m the coach. He needs to to x, y and x better. In my estimation he’s hurting the team not helping the team until he gets that stiff addressed”. Anything. But this pouty annoyed silence and refusal is what shows disrespect to the player, the fans, and the organization. It’s hypocritical to hold someone publicly accountable yet not hold yourself to the same standard.

PS the way he yelled at Brink in front of the whole world like a father screaming at his child, was also not professional and a public embarrassment.
- mikeyo27

It's all cumulative and it all adds up over time. Brink wasn't even the main culprit on that play.

Torts isn't teaching or coaching anyone in this situation. He is punishing a player whose play had dropped off because he wore him out. You think Coots doesn't know what he needs to do to be better? I guarantee there is nothing dinosaur Torts can tell him that he doesn't already know. Play better? Im sure Coots is like omg Torts, thanks for the input, now I see why they pay you the big bucks.

This isn't development, this isn't leadership, this is a guy with a limited bag of tricks who likes to play head games when what few coaching tools he has doesn't work. Torts needs to look in the mirror.
- MBFlyerfan

Great post. Tortorella is already at the limit of his coaching tools. He is good at getting a team to play with structure and getting buy in. Once that is accomplished, that's it. He doesn't know how to handle players. Terrible at young player development and his in game strategy is mediocre. He still thinks the ways of 20 years ago work. They don't. He scratches players repeatedly because he has no other tactics. He deserves credit for the teams turnaround but at this point, he is nothing more than a high priced interim coach. That is probably going to move into the upper office and continue being the main influencer to this organization.

Guys. Just list the players. Who can or cannot be scratched? As qualified coaches, what’s in your bag or tricks to spark the team?

I guess I’m just sick of listening to a bunch of Average Joe’s talk about how they could do better. Let’s call it what it is. None of you have ever coached an NHL an NHL or developed young players. So let’s stop.
- roenick97

I’m on record saying Torts has done a lot of good things this year. But if I see what I consider to be a situation where by I think he’s dropped the ball then I think it’s fair to call it out. I think from start to right now he’s f’d up the whole Coots situation. Is that not fair to question Torts….the same way a lot have ex- players have done in the last 24 hrs?

I love that the coach has this power. About time. Any decision made by the coach reflects on him based on results. Once again Torts isn’t out to sabotage himself. If he is right about this move it will only strengthen his hold on this team. Cry babies like Bill and Mjl need to go find a corner and hug it out.

I love that the coach has this power. About time. Any decision made by the coach reflects on him based on results. Once again Torts isn’t out to sabotage himself. If he is right about this move it will only strengthen his hold on this team. Cry babies like Bill and Mjl need to go find a corner and hug it out.
- Keyser soze

See, you would think that, but he's done it in the past.

So, do we have any thoughts on tonight’s game? Can the team manage to get a point or 2?