Flyers’ John Tortorella hiring causes stir in NHL community
The Philadelphia Flyers have employed John Tortorella as their new head coach and it didn’t take lengthy for reactions to flood social media.
Whereas he’s the second-winningest American head coach in NHL historical past and a two-time Jack Adams Award winner, Tortorella is very recognized for a fiery perspective that may rub gamers the improper manner. He additionally received into it a number of occasions with reporters when he was the bench boss of the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Former Ranger and Blue Jacket Brandon Dubinsky despatched his ideas and prayers to the present members of the Flyers.
The connection between the ahead and the pinnacle coach lasted virtually eight years, as Dubinsky performed 4 seasons with the Rangers and 4 with the Blue Jackets. Whereas Dubinsky was fast to throw shade, he had a few of his most efficient seasons underneath Tortorella. For instance, through the 2010-11 season, Dubinsky logged a career-high 24 targets and 54 factors.
Former winger Matthew Barnaby was not solely one of many hardest NHL gamers on the ice from 1992 to 2007, he was by no means the sort to chew his tongue. He sounded off after the Tortorella announcement, profanely stating on his social account that he would have employed no less than six head coaches earlier than signing Torts to a deal.
Barnaby performed underneath Tortorella for the top of the 2000–01 season in Tampa Bay and a part of the next marketing campaign earlier than he was traded to the Rangers. In 29 video games underneath Tortorella in 2001-02, Barnaby didn’t put up a single level.
Present Flyers ahead Cam Atkinson got here to Tortorella’s rescue when he responded to his staff’s announcement of the coach’s addition.
Atkinson performed underneath Tortorella for a lot of seasons in Columbus, beginning again in 2015 when the fiery head coach was employed. He recorded his greatest season guided by Torts in 2018-19, racking up 41 targets and 69 factors because the Blue Jackets made it to the second spherical of the postseason for the primary time in franchise historical past.
The 33-year-old ahead was traded to the Flyers similtaneously Tortorella’s contract was not renewed in Columbus. They are going to reunite in Philly, to Atkinson’s delight.
Atkinson may due to this fact have a optimistic influence on the Flyers’ dressing room forward of Tortorella’s first teaching session. As he takes over in Philadelphia, let’s hope that none of his new gamers really feel the identical manner as Dubinsky and Barnaby.
The Flyers’ mascot Gritty additionally appeared fairly enthusiastic about Tortorella taking up behind the bench, although it’s straightforward to think about how the connection would possibly shortly deteriorate.
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