As the Flyers continue to interview coaching candidates (John Tortorella being the latest), the Flyers must hire the right coach with a long-term vision

Photo Credit: Monica Herndon/Philadelphia Inquirer

One of the most important things Chuck Fletcher has to do this offseason is hire the right coach. Not just any coach, but the right coach. The next Flyers’ Head Coach will be the fifth one hired in the past six seasons. The orange and black are going through coaches like it’s water, and it really makes them look like an embarrassment to the rest of the NHL.

With that being said, former New York Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz interviewed with the Flyers recently, and the latest head coaching candidate to interview is a former tough, no non-sense coach in John Tortorella. Both of these coaches are mightily different, but the same in some ways. Fortunately, both of these good coaches command the most from their players, I mean Cam Atkinson spoke highly of Tortorella at the exit interviews. Players respect these coaches because they are honest, and each player knows exactly where they stand and where they should improve their game.

Some people believe that the Flyers could give any amount of money to Trotz to lure him to Philly, which is true, however the Jets could “Blank check” Trotz too. The Jets were worth $575 million and they profited $68 million in 2020-21, while the Flyers profited $161 million according to Forbes .

It will be tough trying to lure Trotz to Philly, especially when Trotz is from Manitoba, as well. However, the Flyers still stand a good shot, as they are only the second team to receive an interview for his services. Obviously, there is some interest on his behalf or he would have turned it down.

Tortorella would create a buzz within the media, fans, and players. He always gives a candid interview, with lots to say. He would definitely keep all involved on their heels, in a good way. Unfortunately, Alain Vigneault was the same way and he lost the room it appeared. Do the Flyers need a no non-sense coach like Tortorella, you bet, however, why would Tortorella be more successful than Vigneault with the Flyers, as Vigneault was a no non-sense coach, as well?

One thing Tortorella has going for him is his apparent relationship he had built with Cam Atkinson, “I think it all starts with practice,” Atkinson said at exit interviews. “You practice how you play. Especially when I turned pro, I learned that from John Tortorella. He was great in that aspect.”

“I think going into next year, we need to find a way to have some more grit, some more jam, more ‘F you” to our game, on both sides of the puck, in our crease, defending our goalie and in their crease,” Atkinson said. “I thought we were a pretty soft team this year in my opinion.” This is where Tortorella would excel at as coach of the Flyers, and this is why he is needed as the next coach of the Flyers. He would definitely command the most out of his players, and they would have each other’s backs. If not here’s the bench or see a massive reduction in ice time. Tortorella has done that in the past to a star named Patrik Laine.

Some have said that Tortorella would be a good short-term hire, rather than a long-term hire. Although this may be true, then he should not be the next coach of the Flyers. It’s time for the orange and black to place trust into their next hire, regardless of the status moving forward with current Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher. This one hire could set the Flyers back two to three years, or it could have the reverse effect and possibly move the Flyers ahead with a swift retool. They need a coach with a shelf life longer than two to three years as this coaching carousel has to come to an end at some point.

It’s tough for all parties involved to hire new coaches (Front office, staff, players), and for that matter this next hire will be the fifth Head Coach under Fletcher’s guidance as Flyers’ GM (Unfortunately, I had to include Dave Hakstol in this stat, even though the writing was on the wall before Fletcher took command of the ship).

Whatever or whomever the Flyers next Head Coach is, this has to be a hire that is here long-term. Here is a recent quote from Chuck Fletcher, that obtained from Sam Carchidi of Philly Hockey Now:

“We expect to interview several high-quality candidates over the coming days and week. Our goal is to find the right candidate for the job based on chemistry, fit, and proven track record of success.”

In an earlier release, Fletcher said that this coaching hire would take time, even if that means missing out on a candidate(s). If Trotz checks all the boxes then hire him, if Tortorella is the guy then hire him. Where I’m getting at, is the Flyers could miss out on a well qualified coach and that has happened in the past. For example, not firing Vigneault in the offseason, thus losing out on Gerard Gallant, or not firing Vigneault in time during the season before Bruce Boudreau was scooped up by the Vancouver Canucks. It really makes this front office look even more dysfunctional when the writing was clearly on the wall, and that is yet another reason some Flyers do not trust Fletcher and his staff with this critical hire.

The Flyers must nail this next coaching hire, and he better be here long-term to end this coaching carousel.

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