John Tortorella, Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Philadelphia Flyers Fire Head Coach John Tortorella

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Christopher Babos | Last updated Mar 27, 2025 9:54 AM ET

With nine games left in the season, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that John Tortorella has been “relieved of his duties as head coach.” Brad Shaw, the Flyers’ Associate Coach, will take over the head coaching duties immediately, according to Flyers general manager Daniel Briere. Philadelphia is 28-36-9 and has lost six straight games. Tortorella ends his coaching tenure in Philly with a 97-107-33 record over three seasons.

OFFICIAL: The Flyers have relieved John Tortorella of his duties as head coach. Philadelphia Flyers Associate Coach, Brad Shaw, has been named interim head coach and will assume duties immediately. https://t.co/qJuAybRMFT pic.twitter.com/saaH0u62lT
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 27, 2025

The timing of the dismissal is notable given the Flyers’ recent 0-5 road trip, which ended with a 7-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and a 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. After the loss against the Maple Leafs two nights ago, Tortorella had eyebrow-raising comments for the media. “This falls on me,” Tortorella said. “I’m not really interested in learning coach in this type of season, where we’re at right now. But I have to do a better job. So this falls on me, getting the team prepared to play the proper way until we get to the end.”

As Philadelphia returned home to finish the last extended home stand of the season, the Flyers will be doing so under the direction of Shaw. This will be Shaw’s second stint as an interim head coach. The coach replaced Steve Stirling behind the New York Islanders bench in Jan. 2006. At the halfway mark, the Islanders were 19-18-3 and riding a five-game losing streak. New York finished the season 40-30-12 with a trip to the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they lost to the Buffalo Sabres in five games.

John Tortorella, Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Philadelphia (28-36-9) returns to action tonight as they host the Montreal Canadiens (33-28-9) at Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia at 7 pm EST. While the Flyers are out of the race for the postseason, tonight’s contest is crucial for Montreal as the Canadiens cling to a one-point lead on the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.