Flyers Coach Tortorella Hits Major Milestone Despite The NHL's Changes In Coaching Style
Flyers coach John Tortorella has hit a notable milestone in the coaching business. His hyper-gruff persona masquerades his big heart and evolving coaching talent.
As we’ve seen over the years, the professional hockey coaching industry eats up people and spits them out on a regular basis.
Sometimes coaches get only a handful of months at the NHL level before they get the pink slip. It’s not always a fair business, but that’s the reality of the job. And that’s why Philadelphia Flyers bench boss John Tortorella’s achievement of coaching 1,600 games is a special feat.
Yes, he's been fired his fair share — four times, in fact. And among the top 20 bench bosses in career games coached, Tortorella's .540 points percentage is the second-lowest, next to Ron Wilson's .531. But each and every time Tortorella's been out of a job, he hasn't had to wait long for his next opportunity.
At some point, every team wants a coach like Tortorella. Someone who holds players accountable and treats every player the same. Someone who challenges, offers tough love and gets in your face in order to get results.
There's a reason why Tortorella, who won a Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay, was the go-to hire for the Rangers and Canucks when they were trying to get over the hump and win a championship. There's also a reason why rebuilding teams like Columbus and Philadelphia have chosen him to develop their youngsters and get them to take the next step.
He's not always the most popular coach. But few other coaches have been as effective.
We keep hearing that today's coaches are more player-friendly mentors than authoritarian dictators. But Tortorella still isn't afraid to bench a captain like Sean Couturier or a future superstar in Matvei Michkov.
Not that Torts doesn't have a soft spot.
Say what you will about Tortorella and his hyper-gruff persona, but you have to give him his due, not just for being a coaching lifer but also for giving back to the community. He’s currently mentoring coaches, and he’s also a devout advocate for animal welfare and children’s learning.
Indeed, The John And Christine Tortorella Family Foundation is an umbrella charity that does wonderful work for animals and kids. Tortorella can bark at the media all he wants, but his actions demonstrate there’s a very big heart underneath the edgy exterior. In addition, over 23 years of coaching, he’s done it all and he deserves credit for adapting his coaching approach to new generations of players.
Full disclosure: this writer criticized Tortorella for his antagonistic relationship with media – especially when he became a media member when he was out of a coaching job and looking for work. But in his press conferences with the Flyers now, you can see he’s trying to be less angry with reporters. There’s still the possibility a reporter can get on Tortorella’s bad side, but he’s much better at biting his lip and pushing through situations he’s not fond of.
It’s a positive evolution, but at age 66, Tortorella may not have much time left in the league. The coaching business is fickle, and once Tortorella passes his “best before” date with the Flyers, he may not be able to step in with another franchise and remain an NHL coach for as long as he chooses.
For now, though, hitting the 1,600-game plateau is something that should be celebrated. Tortorella won’t want to be the center of attention, of course, but there’s no question he’s carved out a place in hockey history that will be very difficult to replicate. He deserves to be recognized for everything he’s achieved.
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