Some unfounded rumors perpetually swirling the Philadelphia Flyers have just been squashed.
On a March 22 podcast episode of “Real Kyper & Bourne”, former Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Doug MacLean claimed that current Flyers head coach John Tortorella wanted to move into management at the end of his tenure there, but then-general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wasn’t on board with the idea.
So, Tortorella moved on, and a short time later, ended up with the Flyers. The episode is making the rounds on social media again, with the Flyers on an eight-game losing streak and having disturbing concerns on their back end for the first time all season.
The speculation seems to be that Tortorella will join Danny Briere and Keith Jones as part of Flyers management, but NHL insider Darren Dreger was able to quickly dismiss that.
“Torts is not leaving the bench,” a source within the Flyers organization reportedly told Dreger.
Quite frankly, the idea that Tortorella would leave the bench for an office never made sense. Despite his advanced age, the 65-year-old veteran coach clearly still has the passion for his job and loves to teach the players.
Tortorella also had a hand in the Jamie Drysdale trade, and the 22-year-old defenseman is going to be a huge part of the future of Flyers hockey. It would make no sense, especially after an injury-marred three months, to no longer be able to teach the player hands-on at practice every day.
To be clear, this is not to say that Tortorella won’t move into management eventually, and that it won’t be with the Flyers. But, while Tortorella is still under contract as the Flyers’ head coach, he’s going to coach the team.
Unless he or the team has a sudden change of heart, there’s absolutely no reason to think otherwise until then.
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