Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Flyers hired a former Stanley Cup winning Head Coach John Tortorella to a four year deal, worth $16 million. Some forget he won a Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in the 2003-04 season. Tortorella is known to be a hard-nosed coach, who commands the most from his players. He is not afraid of benching or calling out star studded players either.
Tortorella took to @SiriusXMNHL Radio recently and spoke about the Flyers locker room:
“I have major concerns about the room…I spent some time in the office talking to players (In the Summer), talking to personnel, talking to Chuck Fletcher, all the front office, and I have major concerns about what goes on in there.”
Shots fired right!!!! People knew of a fracture inside the locker room after exit interviews, to which Cam Atkinson (In particular) was pretty candid with such. This is not a new revelation in regards to the Flyers locker room, as Tortorella mentioned in June when he took the position in the first place. However, in this case Tortorella spoke directly about the Flyers top brass, personnel, and players in the Summer and realizes there is still a fracture. Even with a new coaching staff, and some changes there is still a fracture.
What is even more nerve-wracking for Flyers fans is that Chuck Fletcher brought back the majority of the team from last season. In my opinion, maybe the problem is far worse than anyone expected, to include Chuck Fletcher. If Fletcher was aware of a major fracture in the locker room, then why would he bring back practically the entire roster from last season, and run it back?
One can definitely make a case that the fracture still exists and is deeper than most expected, since the majority of the team has returned from last season, with the exception for a few changes here and there. Tortorella being outspoken about such could also be a motivational tactic to put the players on notice that he is well aware of a fracture inside the locker room, “Before we even step on the ice, situations and standards and accountability in the room is forefront,” Tortorella said on the Flyers locker room as he stated on @SiriusXMNHL. “You can’t get squat done on the ice until you get your room straightened out, and I think we have a little bit of work to do there.”
Tortorella also explained that he is in no rush to name a Captain, and that is to be expected. He has to get to know the players before he makes a major decision like that, on the ice and off. Whatever the case may be, Tortorella has his work cut out for him to make this locker room fresh and vibrant again, and for sure this will be an interesting “Difficult Camp,” as Tortorella has previously mentioned.
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I can not take credit for this quote. Out at a Flyers game last season Sarah T. says to me. They say everyone they sign to this team is a “great locker room guy”, they must be having a blast back there but they all look so miserable as soon as they come out here.
I cannot take credit for this quote. At a game last year Sarah T says to me. Everyone they sign is supposed to be “a great locker room guy” they must be having a blast back there but they all look miserable out here.