Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella has always been pretty transparent and acts like a General Manager when it comes to the overall outlook of the Flyers organization as a whole. He has said in the past that “You cannot fall in love with players, and the organization would have to proceed as planned.”
Yesterday, was no different when asked over and over again about the looming trade deadline that will commence on March 7, 2025. At first Tortorella was stern and did not provide much responses to said questions about Rasmus Ristolainen and Scott Laughton, both of whom are rumored to be the next ones traded, “I do think you have to listen because you can’t fall in love. We have to get better,” Tortorella said. “When you try to get better there are going to be some casualties.”
Tortorella continued, “If someone was moved for the sake of us trying to get better, and maybe opening up another avenue to try to get better. You feel bad about it, but this is a business, this is part of it. We can’t have soft skin here, because you get stuck in the mud. I think this organization has been stuck in the mud for a number of years.”
When referencing a soldier like Scott Laughton. It is hard to part ways with this savvy Veteran, however, at the end of the day Laughton knows exactly where he stands within the organization, “I understand it’s a business and Danny and Jonesy have to do what is best for the group in the future. I’m trying to help this team win and make a little push here.”
Laughton continues, “It’s the same thing every year. I understand the business side of it. But, I signed a 5-year contract here, and that’s pretty much it. If they have to make a move, they have to make it. I’ll continue to go business as usual. If I have those conversations down the line, then we do and go from there.”
“Danny is listening. He has to listen because we are in that stage. We have to improve our team. Scotty’s loved here, but you can’t fall in love,” Tortorella said. ” In the same token, for how loyal Laughton has been, the Flyers will send him to him a team that he would prefer to play for. The same went for Claude Giroux, whom had a no trade clause, but the organization made it work with the team he wanted to play for.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise
If a team is willing to pay the hefty price of a first round pick, then Laughton will definitely be moved. If a team wants to only offer a second round pick, then Laughton will remain a Flyer. I don’t sense a trade being made by the orange and black until the deadline nears. Laughton might not be the first choice by a team that might want to trade for his services. May be Laughton is that team’s second choice.
Whatever the case may be, this is actually one of the first few times that Laughton could possibly be dealt. In recent past, the Flyers held onto his services to help aide and stabilize the locker room. The only question that now remains is, will a team pay the price for his services?
