Atkinson was always a hard player to move b/c he's owed $5.75M next season. Probably a buyout in June, with Peterson and Johansen. That would free up almost $10M and move $6M or so into 2025 when they'll have oodles of cap room.
I admit I never liked Briere as a player until the one playoff that he went crazy and carried the team. He always seemed very soft.
He is implementing a plan almost to perfection. This franchise looked hopeless 2 years ago, now they are at least moving in the right direction. I have no confidence in Torts, but just like Briere he can always prove me wrong.
Well, he had to show he could play again to be moved. The money is not the obstacle, as the Flyers themselves keep proving by taking some on themselves. I think he's probably still a guy you try to keep and trade unless you're sure he's cooked
So you're part of the problem! 
The Flyers' preference for the Ristos and Deslauriers of the world - albeit in more skilled packages - over the Brieres of the world is what kept them back for so long.
How has Torts not already proved you wrong? He's still kind of a jerk but he's very plainly shown a ton of coaching savvy, whether on the ice or in the room (and always has). The possibility that he would instill a work ethic/overachievement that woulld actually hurt the team rebuild-wise (in terms of draft position) has turned out to be true! But he still has bought in to what the team is doing. It would be a little nuts if he gets a new contract but right now that looks like it will be a choice, not a firing. If this year goes as well as next year he'll surely finish the deal; if not maybe he steps aside for the next guy. Seems pretty obvious he's not leaving the organization.
He might. I don’t like the whole “motivate the guy by berating him in the media” thing, but yes, I am surprised this season. Let’s see if they can close it out and do something respectable in the playoffs. I am leaning towards him being better than I thought…
I can’t imagine playing for the guy. I would want to punch him every day. Of course some very good head coaches were complete jerks
Boy, what Flyers coaches weren't? (I mean, a lot of them weren't, but Keenan, Hitch, Terry Murray... these were not lovable guys.)
For better or worse I don't think Torts is that strategic about it when he does it in public, he just can't help himself. But he's reined himself in.
I think they can get swept in the first round of the playoffs - which they still really should, or at least a short series, if current bracket holds - and it will still have been a memorable and remarkable season, and the most successful stint by a Flyers coach since Lavvy (yeah Vigneault won but in the bigger picture was not a great hire and quickly became a disaster. Wasn't he a classic "players stop listening to him" hardass too?).
Yea, I am not saying they need to do much winning in the playoffs to be a success. Honestly making the playoffs didn’t even seem possible at the start of this year. Winning a game or two would be nice, but just “showing up” is more than I expected. Scare somebody. Give the fans a thrill.
My conspiracy theory is the Flyers are waiting for the Pens to fire Sullivan in the next year or two, at which time he'll be hired by the Flyers as an "advisor," spends time with LHV coaching and getting familiar with prospects and with the big team while paid by the Pens. When Torts retires, his protege (started his career with Torts) is in place to take over.
They don't even have to make the playoffs, just being in a serious playoff run is great experience, but just as important, a chance for Briere to see his players under pressure - last season can be misleading b/c the games were meaningless and opponents were bringing their "B" and "C" games.
I think 90% of the fan base and 100% of the organization will be disappointed if they don't make the playoffs at this point. Might be excusable/not the end of the world, especially given the goaltending, injuries, and loss of Walker, but still
Sullivan didn't start his career with Torts, he was the head coach of the Boston Bruins (and their AHL team). But sure, they've worked together quite a bit since then. He is possibly going to get fired this year. He should have already been fired but has more sway with Fenway than his new boss does. I could certainly see it if if he doesn't take another job first, or stays there longer. I think the current assistants are also candidates (if other teams don't get them first as well).
Extremely funny they were honoring Torts and the 2004 team (booooooo!) last night.
Hextall signed him to a 3 year extension, so I think he'll last another season, but it's an awful situation, aging stars, no depth and no talent coming (#27 ranked pipeline)/draft picks (2 2nds this year, 1st and 3rd next year).
I can see him fired in a year, spending a year hanging out in Philly on the Pen's dime, then taking over when Michkov arrives. Unless of course, Shaw becomes the designated successor.
I think Dubas would have happily canned him though.Heck I think Hextall would have (and had nothing to do with that extension, it was a reflection that Sullivan had more power than Hextall with the Boston-based ownership group).
Of course that means it is up to Fenway again now, both on merit and in terms of the $. In fact it might be up to Theo Epstein.
The fine and suspension are just the latest for the guy some have said has mellowed after more than 30 years of coaching. The 65-year-old coach has now been fined 13 times and suspended four.
Whether Tortorella actually has to pay is unknown. Flyers CEO Dan Hilferty told Al Morganti of NBC Sports Philadelphia he’d pay any fine the NHL levies.
“I’m really proud of Torts for standing up for his/our team,” Hilferty said, according to a Morganti tweet. “This new era of Orange is about having each other’s backs. Last night, Torts had our collective backs. I respect any action the league might feel a need to take but if it includes a fine, I am paying it.”
Kind of knew what I was really going to see tonight
First game in person. Defense actually looked better than I expected despite the score but obviously way overmatched between the two old guys and the two young guys. And there's still not enough skill/finish/power play. Hope they still make the playoffs and have enough to get it to six games. Isles can now catch them with games in hand and a lot of tough games on the schedule.