No idea.
- Flyers_01

I am sure Torts's OTL numbers would be much worse if he didn't have Bob in Columbus.

Neither.
- MJL

So your team wouldn't have a coach. Interesting strategy.

Some are entertaining….some he comes off like a bit of a diick. I do like when he gives some of his in depth answers.
- landros 2

When he decides to show up and isn't dodging accountability ...

But yea it's usually worth listening to whether to praise him or bury him.

So your team wouldn't have a coach. Interesting strategy.
- WhiskeyMan

Not what I said. Second time.

You may not like the coach cause hes a meanie but remember he was the first one to demand a rebuild here. He was the first one to stand up and say the team and org itself need major changes and the rebuild began. He also gets criticized because he pushes teams to overachieve like he did last year with the flyers. Think about that as he wins more games than he should... I don't like the benchings in front of grandmom and granddad as a way to prove a point, but the guy does squeeze blood out of stones. Now plez go back to your rinse repeat complaints about vet coaches who kinda still seem to win in this league.

So your team wouldn't have a coach. Interesting strategy.
- WhiskeyMan

They could go with a three headed monster of assistant coaches. It has worked wonders in the front office.

You may not like the coach cause hes a meanie but remember he was the first one to demand a rebuild here. He was the first one to stand up and say the team and org itself need major changes and the rebuild began. He also gets criticized because he pushes teams to overachieve like he did last year with the flyers. Think about that as he wins more games than he should... I don't like the benchings in front of grandmom and granddad as a way to prove a point, but the guy does squeeze blood out of stones. Now plez go back to your rinse repeat complaints about vet coaches who kinda still seem to win in this league.
- 26912 PP

This is hysterical. Demand a rebuild? Classic

You may not like the coach cause hes a meanie but remember he was the first one to demand a rebuild here. He was the first one to stand up and say the team and org itself need major changes and the rebuild began. He also gets criticized because he pushes teams to overachieve like he did last year with the flyers. Think about that as he wins more games than he should... I don't like the benchings in front of grandmom and granddad as a way to prove a point, but the guy does squeeze blood out of stones. Now plez go back to your rinse repeat complaints about vet coaches who kinda still seem to win in this league.
- 26912 PP

he demanded a rebuild yet they haven't rebuilt. he is all talk.

they didn't overachieve last season.

Bill Meltzer: Tortorella to be Team USA Assistant Coach at 4 Nations
- bmeltzer

Bill, can you write note about Risto so the town folk can carry their torches n pitchforks to his house instead?

Torts should not be extended as a coach. His shelf life is predictable and it will be interesting to see how things work out this year. He tends to peak in his 2nd or 3rd year with organizations, and then things go down hill from there. He is the type of coach that players will tune out eventually.
- Phillywhiteout

Predictable? Hes in year 3 with PHI. He spent 7 seasons with Tampa, 5 with New York and 6 with Columbus. Only outlier was the 1 season in Vancouver. He is in just year 3 with Philly. His shelf life dictates he would be good for up to at leasy 5 seasons if he wants to keep coaching

he demanded a rebuild yet they haven't rebuilt. he is all talk.

they didn't overachieve last season.
- hello it's me 2050

they did overachieve last yr based on pretty much every experts opinion and the smart folks in vegas as well. Also they have 6 picks in the top 45 next yr. They traded vets like Provy and Walker knowing full well the Walker trade was gonna exit them from the playoffs. They also have one of the youngest rosters in the nhl this year. They have weaponized cap space for draft picks as opposed to using that space for vets. You may want a Buff Sabres rebuild and live in the abyss for 10 years, but thats not really how its done anymore. Sorry, this is a rebuild. You want to argue about the way they are rebuilding. Knock yourself out. Frost is not given enough room to grow..yup thats a sound argument. However, he played Tippett 26 minutes some nights two years ago and they have a ton of kids getting big minutes.

You may not like the coach cause hes a meanie but remember he was the first one to demand a rebuild here. He was the first one to stand up and say the team and org itself need major changes and the rebuild began. He also gets criticized because he pushes teams to overachieve like he did last year with the flyers. Think about that as he wins more games than he should... I don't like the benchings in front of grandmom and granddad as a way to prove a point, but the guy does squeeze blood out of stones. Now plez go back to your rinse repeat complaints about vet coaches who kinda still seem to win in this league.
- 26912 PP

he does have his strengths, just cant get his ego out of the way and goes all caveman. I hope the dump they took down the stretch, the benching of Frost at the end, motivated DB to address with Torts, candidly, the guy could be a really good coach, if he just changed, he demands it from his players but he does not.

You may not like the coach cause hes a meanie but remember he was the first one to demand a rebuild here. He was the first one to stand up and say the team and org itself need major changes and the rebuild began. He also gets criticized because he pushes teams to overachieve like he did last year with the flyers. Think about that as he wins more games than he should... I don't like the benchings in front of grandmom and granddad as a way to prove a point, but the guy does squeeze blood out of stones. Now plez go back to your rinse repeat complaints about vet coaches who kinda still seem to win in this league.
- 26912 PP

I’m not going to ever agree this was a rebuild…more like they are just trying to build a better team from where they are. With that said I’m fine with what Torts has brought to the table as far as the structure and culture and the buy in from the guys they have kept. I do not think he will be here when they hope to or are in a place to be a threat to actually win. So although some of his tactics aren’t what I like to see I do believe the foundation and structure for the organization will be better from when he arrived….perhaps then the team can add the talent needed to get better and put them in an environment where by they can succeed. I’m sure that’s the hope.

You may not like the coach cause hes a meanie but remember he was the first one to demand a rebuild here. He was the first one to stand up and say the team and org itself need major changes and the rebuild began. He also gets criticized because he pushes teams to overachieve like he did last year with the flyers. Think about that as he wins more games than he should... I don't like the benchings in front of grandmom and granddad as a way to prove a point, but the guy does squeeze blood out of stones. Now plez go back to your rinse repeat complaints about vet coaches who kinda still seem to win in this league.
- 26912 PP

I'm more interested in results than talk. The rebuild? If you want to call it that. More like a pause until they get some cap space and more PR than reality. Tortorella deserves credit for getting buy in and establishing structure but he is at the end of his coaching tools. The negatives far outweigh the positives with Tortorella. I think you and I have a different definition of what winning is. Tortorella hasn't won anything or come close to winning anything in over 20 years as a coach.

they did overachieve last yr based on pretty much every experts opinion and the smart folks in vegas as well. Also they have 6 picks in the top 45 next yr. They traded vets like Provy and Walker knowing full well the Walker trade was gonna exit them from the playoffs. They also have one of the youngest rosters in the nhl this year. They have weaponized cap space for draft picks as opposed to using that space for vets. You may want a Buff Sabres rebuild and live in the abyss for 10 years, but thats not really how its done anymore. Sorry, this is a rebuild. You want to argue about the way they are rebuilding. Knock yourself out. Frost is not given enough room to grow..yup thats a sound argument. However, he played Tippett 26 minutes some nights two years ago and they have a ton of kids getting big minutes.
- 26912 PP

Provorov being traded had nothing to do with a rebuild. Both sides wanted a change of scenery and that would've happened whether they were rebuilding or not. With Walker, they tried to re-sign him and then moved him because they couldn't come to a deal that both sides agreed with. You're wrong in that it's not done that way. It absolutely is, you just don't realize it. A true rebuild is going to take 7-10 years realistically. You can gradually increase competitiveness but that's about what it takes to get that true top level. What's going on is a shadow of a rebuild and it's more just biding time to get some cap space so they can get back to doing what they've always done. They lucked into Michkov. They need more elite talent and the current path their on is not likely to add more.

Not sure if this has been discussed here, but I just took a look at the 24-25 schedule. The first 4 games are 10:00 starts on the road! Could there be a worse way to start the season for fans?

they did overachieve last yr based on pretty much every experts opinion and the smart folks in vegas as well. Also they have 6 picks in the top 45 next yr. They traded vets like Provy and Walker knowing full well the Walker trade was gonna exit them from the playoffs. They also have one of the youngest rosters in the nhl this year. They have weaponized cap space for draft picks as opposed to using that space for vets. You may want a Buff Sabres rebuild and live in the abyss for 10 years, but thats not really how its done anymore. Sorry, this is a rebuild. You want to argue about the way they are rebuilding. Knock yourself out. Frost is not given enough room to grow..yup thats a sound argument. However, he played Tippett 26 minutes some nights two years ago and they have a ton of kids getting big minutes.
- 26912 PP

more like other teams underachieved allowed the flyers to appear to overachieve.

keep drinking the kool aid. all that stuff you mentioned and yet they are still a bottom end team with no end in sight to legit contend

sorry it isnt a rebuild. it is a take it as it comes approach. they want to make the playoffs yet you say they are rebuilding.

he does have his strengths, just cant get his ego out of the way and goes all caveman. I hope the dump they took down the stretch, the benching of Frost at the end, motivated DB to address with Torts, candidly, the guy could be a really good coach, if he just changed, he demands it from his players but he does not.
- wcorvette

He def gets in his own way but his thing seems be trust snd effort. Being more skilled is not enough in his mind. He wants a guy like Frost to outwork guys like Poehling. That is one of the reasons why i think he will love Michkov because we have already seen it this offseason, the guy works hard

I dont know what hes thinking in OT. He is either trying to lose or really doesn't understand that defense doesn't really work for 3 on 3. Even the possession bit doesn't make sense. I dont see Laughton, Cates or Poehling as huge faceoff guys. Couturier is the guy you send out for draws.

Torts makes all his mistakes when he gets rilled up.

I’m not going to ever agree this was a rebuild…more like they are just trying to build a better team from where they are. With that said I’m fine with what Torts has brought to the table as far as the structure and culture and the buy in from the guys they have kept. I do not think he will be here when they hope to or are in a place to be a threat to actually win. So although some of his tactics aren’t what I like to see I do believe the foundation and structure for the organization will be better from when he arrived….perhaps then the team can add the talent needed to get better and put them in an environment where by they can succeed. I’m sure that’s the hope.
- landros 2

if he is still here in 5 years than damn.

can't add talent when the powers that be do not put an emphasis on said talent. They want a certain type of player to build around. you will not win schitt with that philosophy.

Provorov being traded had nothing to do with a rebuild. Both sides wanted a change of scenery and that would've happened whether they were rebuilding or not. With Walker, they tried to re-sign him and then moved him because they couldn't come to a deal that both sides agreed with. You're wrong in that it's not done that way. It absolutely is, you just don't realize it. A true rebuild is going to take 7-10 years realistically. You can gradually increase competitiveness but that's about what it takes to get that true top level. What's going on is a shadow of a rebuild and it's more just biding time to get some cap space so they can get back to doing what they've always done. They lucked into Michkov. They need more elite talent and the current path their on is not likely to add more.
- MJL

that is not correct. had the ivan bot asked out he would have still been on the team to start the season.

if he is still here in 5 years than damn.

can't add talent when the powers that be do not put an emphasis on said talent. They want a certain type of player to build around. you will not win schitt with that philosophy.
- hello it's me 2050

Perhaps they can fall azz backwards into another kid like Michkov.

He def gets in his own way but his thing seems be trust snd effort. Being more skilled is not enough in his mind. He wants a guy like Frost to outwork guys like Poehling. That is one of the reasons why i think he will love Michkov because we have already seen it this offseason, the guy works hard

I dont know what hes thinking in OT. He is either trying to lose or really doesn't understand that defense doesn't really work for 3 on 3. Even the possession bit doesn't make sense. I dont see Laughton, Cates or Poehling as huge faceoff guys. Couturier is the guy you send out for draws.

Torts makes all his mistakes when he gets rilled up.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

The issue is that he sees a player like Poehling as being more effective than a player like Frost due to his bias for certain kinds of players. He's wrong. The best teams want skill, talent and speed backed up by a good team mix with a sprinkling role players. Tortorella wants the opposite. He wants a team full of checkers and grinders with just enough offense sprinkled in.

He def gets in his own way but his thing seems be trust snd effort. Being more skilled is not enough in his mind. He wants a guy like Frost to outwork guys like Poehling. That is one of the reasons why i think he will love Michkov because we have already seen it this offseason, the guy works hard

I dont know what hes thinking in OT. He is either trying to lose or really doesn't understand that defense doesn't really work for 3 on 3. Even the possession bit doesn't make sense. I dont see Laughton, Cates or Poehling as huge faceoff guys. Couturier is the guy you send out for draws.

Torts makes all his mistakes when he gets rilled up.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

torts has flat out said himself he doesn't know offense. in OT that clearly shows.

Perhaps they can fall azz backwards into another kid like Michkov.
- landros 2

that is possible sure. it won't be because of choice!!!

Bill, can you write note about Risto so the town folk can carry their torches n pitchforks to his house instead?
- 26912 PP

Let's go down the incestuous rabbit hole a little bit.

Sullivan picks his mentor to assist him on Team USA with the understanding that Sullivan is likely to get fired after this year with Torts getting promoted and giving Sullivan his job on the Flyers. The circle of life.

Bill has previously pointed out that it's who you know, not what you know when staying employed in the NHL and has indeed posited this scenario for next year.