Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella spared no punches when talking to the media about his team’s recent struggles.
The Flyers hold the third spot in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points, but they are in the midst of a 2-5-3 run over the past 10 games. Once considered a safe bet to make the postseason, the Flyers find themselves just one point ahead of the Washington Capitals for the third spot in the Metropolitan Division.
The Caps hold the second wild-card spot but have the same number of points as Detroit, one spot out and just one point over the New York Islanders. Even the Pittsburgh Penguins have put themselves back in a playoff hunt with 79 points, meaning there’s little wiggle room left for five teams chasing two spots.
In a media scrum after practice on Wednesday, Tortorella made it clear how he feels about the team’s struggles, and the perception that his players are quitting on him right ahead of the playoffs.
“It comes down to, oh, they’re going to quit on him.” It follows me around, “Tortorella said, in a quote transcribed from The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz. “And so be it. If a player is going to quit on me, or players are going to quit on me because I’m trying to make them better people or better athletes, you’ve got the wrong damn coach here, and you’re got the wrong damn people here. My job is… I’m going to push athletes.”
During their recent stretch, the Flyers have dropped to bottom-feeders Montreal and Chicago, as well as difficult losses to playoff teams Toronto, Florida, Boston and the New York Rangers. Philly haven’t won consecutive games since their four-game run after the 2024 NHL All Star Game weekend in early Feburary.
“I’m so proud of the team getting here,” Tortorella continued. “I guess now the narrative out there that I’ve heard from other people (is), “they’re young. They’re not supposed to be here.” Bulls---. We’re here. We’re here. Face it. And let’s be better.
“I don’t think we’re ready to be better, and that’s my problem with us right now. And it is my job I have not done a good enough job to get them over the hump.. I haven’t done a good enough job to make them understand we have to be different now. We have to be at a different level. That’s my frustration with myself and the team. And if people can’t handle it, so be it.”
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