Date Published: 12-2-2022
Photo Credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez/Staff Photographer
Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher gave an update of injuries and spoke about a slew of other things to the media yesterday. However, there is one line that sticks out from the rest:
“I expect them to be more competitive the rest of the way. We’re five points out of a wild-card spot.” – Chuck Fletcher
Does he really believe the Flyers can make the playoffs? Is he just trying to stay face, so people will continue to buy tickets to games? It’s probably a combination of such, but Flyers fans are smarter than that. John Tortorella sees it differently, “You get stuck in the mud if you continue to put band-aids and gimmicks to get people into the building. You get people into the building by winning.”
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Now Fletcher, to his credit, did say the Flyers are building a foundation for the future, but he just appears to be more optimistic than Tortorella, as Fletcher believes this team can win now.
This season has always been a feeling out season. A season in which John Tortorella gets a feel for the players, with weeding out the ones that will not be here for the future. However, Fletcher did say these are teaching moments for the youth, most notably Morgan Frost. He said Frost has played better, just lacks finishing right now. He did explain the pipeline and Fletcher mentioned Cutter Gauthier being a prospect that helps them in the future.
Flyers Injury Update
Fletcher did give an update of the injured Flyers:
James van Riemsdyk saw a doctor earlier yesterday. Hopefully he gets cleared to play, we shall see today at practice.
Ryan Ellis is out for season (Pelvic Injury)
Sean Couturier sees a doctor December 12, then has another appointment in January.
Cam Atkinson is close, will not reveal injury. Atkinson would like privacy with his injury.
Everyone understands why Atkinson would want privacy with his injury. He’s frustrated and just wants to play. Hopefully he can play this weekend or Monday.
Ellis comes as no shock, as Fletcher indicated at Training Camp it would be a “Bonus” if he played in a game this season, so the writing was on the wall for him to miss the entire season.
It appears the Flyers front office and Tortorella are not on the same page. Let’s see what happens in the coming weeks in Flyer land.
Does the NHL have something like the 25th Amendment where a GM can be removed for being delusional ?
LMAO! Sure Chuck, whatever you say. What a blowhard.