Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Flyers-Canes Wrap, Phantoms, Watson, Friday Forecheck

https://twitter.com/TheFl...tatus/1771224371958284493

In case anyone wonders where the rest of the fanbase stands on Torts and the Flyers. Interesting stuff.

https://twitter.com/TheFl...tatus/1771224371958284493

In case anyone wonders where the rest of the fanbase stands on Torts and the Flyers. Interesting stuff.
- MBFlyerfan

Twitter, the town square for idiots.

Twitter, the town square for idiots.
- BiggE

True, but I see similar stuff everywhere.

Seeler comes back, 100% Ginning is out and Johnson stays in?

https://twitter.com/TheFl...tatus/1771224371958284493

In case anyone wonders where the rest of the fanbase stands on Torts and the Flyers. Interesting stuff.
- MBFlyerfan

The Flyers may not have superstar talent. BUT it's a roster with 13 former first-round picks, a group of players age 25 and younger coming into their own, and excellent PK coached by Brad Shaw. The club had very few injuries in the first half, Couturier was posting basically three points every four games (29 in 40 to be exact) and pulling down 20:02 of ice time. The Hart-Ersson tandem was working very well together until Hart/Team Canada legal issues came to a head.

No "miracles" have been worked. Tortorella DOES deserve credit for implementing structure, getting buy-in for teamwide shot blocking and not being accepting of a losing mentality.

I don't believe Torts is required to be accountable to the media or fans. But, it seems like he and Coots have not talked (as of yesterday - according to the agent). I believe Torts likes the player to come to him. He's your captain. Been here a long time. Give the player the courtesy of a quick conversation before it happens. Torts wouldn't treat one of his precious shelter animals this way.

True, but I see similar stuff everywhere.
- MBFlyerfan

yeah, if you look on the Athletic, other blogs and social media it is all the same.

yeah, if you look on the Athletic, other blogs and social media it is all the same.
- Flyfly

yeah I guess this place is the only place on the internet with all the answers

yeah I guess this place is the only place on the internet with all the answers

- anti-lame

The claws come out when Morgan Frost’s name is dropped.

I don't believe Torts is required to be accountable to the media or fans. But, it seems like he and Coots have not talked (as of yesterday - according to the agent). I believe Torts likes the player to come to him. He's your captain. Been here a long time. Give the player the courtesy of a quick conversation before it happens. Torts wouldn't treat one of his precious shelter animals this way.
- cdearth23

Part of a coach's responsibility is to speak to the media. It's OK to send an assistant in his place, but to do it pregame on the same day you scratch your captain before a vital game, do it again after the next game when he's scratched again and to refuse to answer any questions in the one postgame and the one pregame you do consent to do... well, it's not a good look. Especially when accountability and professionalism are central things the coach preaches.

"Torts doesn't want to talk today" is not a legitimate reason. A follow-up doc appointment from his recent hand surgery would have been 100 percent legit, even if the timing wasn't great. I will say that both Rocky (pregame on Tuesday) and Shaw (postgame on Thursday) made their media sessions worthwhile.

Fatal to Tortorella? No. That's an exaggeration. But it IS something that, done repeatedly, erodes respect.

yeah I guess this place is the only place on the internet with all the answers

- anti-lame

Couldn't you just ask your Dad?

Couldn't you just ask your Dad?
- Flyfly

nah what does he know? i'd much rather listen to armchair experts whine with all of their years of nhl coaching and management experience

The savior hath cometh. Fall on your knees. Thy will be done, thy kingdom come.

Follow in my footsteps, children.

Part of a coach's responsibility is to speak to the media. It's OK to send an assistant in his place, but to do it pregame on the same day you scratch your captain before a vital game, do it again after the next game when he's scratched again and to refuse to answer any questions in the one postgame and the one pregame you do consent to do... well, it's not a good look. Especially when accountability and professionalism are central things the coach preaches.

"Torts doesn't want to talk today" is not a legitimate reason. A follow-up doc appointment from his recent hand surgery would have been 100 percent legit, even if the timing wasn't great. I will say that both Rocky (pregame on Tuesday) and Shaw (postgame on Thursday) made their media sessions worthwhile.

Fatal to Tortorella? No. That's an exaggeration. But it IS something that, done repeatedly, erodes respect.
- bmeltzer

I understand not feeling like you have to explain yourself to anyone. Not with the job he’s done. I do understand demanding respect or accountability if you aren’t giving it.

nah what does he know? i'd much rather listen to armchair experts whine with all of their years of nhl coaching and management experience
- anti-lame

Interesting takes from Ryan Callahan and Jody Shelley. They both played for Torts and said basically what I said the other day (patting myself on the back here). They basically said that Torts wants his Captain to march into his office and have it out with him. This is obviously similar to Frost. Coots went to the media and whined. That may be why he is still out of the lineup. Buck up butter cup! Go give Torts a piece of your mind! You're the Captain...act like it!!!! Little take from the movie Rudy. Thanks!

Interesting takes from Ryan Callahan and Jody Shelley. They both played for Torts and said basically what I said the other day (patting myself on the back here). They basically said that Torts wants his captain to march into his office and have it out with him. This is obviously similar to Frost. Coots went to the media and whined. That may be why he is still out of the lineup. Buck up butter cup! Go give Torts a piece of your mind and act like a captain!!!! Little take from the movie Rudy. Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

Not sure why Couturier would need to do any of that. He has done everything for this franchise they have asked since being drafted. Not every captain is the same and to make one act differently would be stupid and take away from those things that made you think he was your captain in the first place.

Loved F Troop. Ken Berry was a genius.

I am a life long loyal Flyers fan. I’ll always be a Flyers fan, but I gave up on the idea that the Flyers would build a Cup contender in any intelligent fashion a long time ago. I have accepted that the best I can hope for is entertainment. As entertainment I can appreciate Tortorella. The team has been entertaining and Tortorella can always be counted on the do something ridiculous. It’s a fun time. As far as the reactions of a lot of fans (see Twitter) I think there are a lot of people who really just enjoy the idea of punishment. They love seeing someone get punished. I don’t know if it stems from having been punished as a child, so it’s confused/intertwined with feelings of love, or if it’s just because they are mean spirited, but a lot of people do love when a daddy figure gives a spanking and sends someone to bed with no supper. To top it off the coach throws in a “because I said so” to the media and stomped off for a scotch in the den. That no doubt got a lot of folks off.

Not sure why Couturier would need to do any of that. He has done everything for this franchise they have asked since being drafted. Not every captain is the same and to make one act differently would be stupid and take away from those things that made you think he was your captain in the first place.
- J35Bacher

I'm not really saying it's right or wrong. I just think torts wants to see some fire from his Captain. That's why I thought TK may make for a better Captain under Torts cause he has that fire. I basically agree with what you are saying though. It's hard to force someone to be someone that they aren't and Coots has been a good soldier. I still wonder if he is playing injured cause he tends to play through anything until it just gets to be too much.

For those of you not named MJL that actually care to hear both sides of the story, I suggest you listen to this week's Hockey & Hounds interview with Torts. This was an extremely insightful interview that outlines the struggles Torts has had with Frost, and how they have both seemingly turned the corner in a positive way. He also covertly discussed the issue with Couturier when discussing what happens when how a player assesses himself is different from how the coaching staff assesses the player, and his feelings about Cam York.

Not sure why Couturier would need to do any of that. He has done everything for this franchise they have asked since being drafted. Not every captain is the same and to make one act differently would be stupid and take away from those things that made you think he was your captain in the first place.
- J35Bacher

There is no doubt Couts is working hard and trying to improve. However, there appears to be a gap between how Couts is assessing his own game right now and how Torts and his staff are assessing Cout's game, and this gap seems to be the reason Couts is sitting.

I'm not really saying it's right or wrong. I just think torts wants to see some fire from his Captain. That's why I thought TK may make for a better Captain under Torts cause he has that fire. I basically agree with what you are saying though. It's hard to force someone to be someone that they aren't and Coots has been a good soldier. I still wonder if he is playing injured cause he tends to play through anything until it just gets to be too much.
- Phillywhiteout

I see this phrase and I always wondering what people are talking about. So you need Couturier to start scrums and chirp?


Everything I have seen from Couturier since he was drafted has always led me to think he was a future captain.

I think this "see a fire" thing is overblown and really just something fans like.

Seeler comes back, 100% Ginning is out and Johnson stays in?
- wcorvette

I would sit Johnson, he looks cooked to me. I like the way Ginning and Attard have played together so far.