The Fischler Report: The Bonanza On Broad Street As John Tortorella Rebuilds The Flyers

Nobody in his right mind would have picked the Philadelphia Flyers to finish anywhere but last place in the Metropolitan Division this season. It's even in the scriptures.

I have this on the highest authority, page 41 of The Hockey News.

Whoops! I almost forgot about the one exception; there is someone in his right mind about the Broad Street gang -- John Tortorella.

What does he care that his outfit has not been in the playoffs since 2020? Nor that such prominent veterans such as Ivan Provorov and Kevin Hayes have since flown the Liberty Bell coop?

Of course John does care a whole heckuva lot. Yeah, he cares and the standard Torts CARE packages are marked Accountability,Teamwork, Push and Pull.

It was evident on Saturday night when they beat the Islanders in a 1-0 Shootout at Elmont. Granted, it was a Shootout win but it was the manner in which it was executed; professionally while defying credulity. 

Get this:

1. He used a third-string goalie, Sam Ersson. 

2. The shootout winner was scored by fifth string right wing, Tyson Foerster. 

3. John treats analytics like I treat cauliflower; with precious little respect.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect about this unbrotherly brother is that he wound up coaching in the City of Brotherly Love in the first place. After all, there was an appealing job with Dallas waiting for him.

"There was something about Philadelphia that John and his wife really liked," a pal mentioned.

"Plus there was a certain 'opportunity.' Rebuilding the Flyers was something he could really sink his teeth into."

The dental work began a year ago when he introduced accountability and structure into the Flyers psyche. It had been badly missing in the seasons leading up to his hire 18 months ago.

Mind you, the turnabout didn't happen overnight. Torts had lost Cam Atkinson and Sean Couturier; not to mention a good chunk of the season from Travis Konecny. But he slogged through the whole ugly mess in his own defiant and sometimes hostile way.

"John's work ethic and accountability were visibly evident from early on," said one NHL scout, "and the Flyers began to show a bounce back ability."

This is a refreshing team because his forwards npw are healthy and the Flyers are playing more aggessive offensively. "There's a commitment and belief in what Torts is doing," said one avid Flyer watcher, "and it's easy to see the upward trajectory."

Translation: "Torts is building a playoff team."

Or, as longtime ESPN hockey staffer Vic Morren -- now independent NHL analyst -- concludes:

"101 games into his tenure in Philly Torts' instincts about the Flyers rebuild being something he really could sink his teeth into are proving correct."

* Those who know Pete Laviolette best tell me that he can push the Rangers ALL the way.

* Believe it, only when you see it.

* If I wanted one shot-blocker for my team it would be Ryan McDonough.

* The other nifty part of Connor Bedard is that he's just as good handling public relations as he is firing a puck.

* Devils need more size and grit plus a vet defenseman to settle the young blue liners.

* The more I talk to experienced hockey people, the more they favor Atlanta for the next NHL expansion team.

* Poor ownership killed it in the past. With good leadership it would be a great market

* Well-coached, as usual, by Jon Cooper, the Bolts survived the absence of Andrei Vasilsevskiy.

* With Vas back, the Bolts have the making of a Cup team.

* You don't often hear coaches publicly praising their aides but the exception took place the other night in Ottawa.

* Injuries to a pair of key Islanders defenders forced coach Lane Lambert to laud his D-aide Doug Houda for time-rationing his four remaining stoppers.

* Media enemies rarely go public with their gripes but ex-ref Tim Peel put the knock on Sportsnet's vet journalist Mark Spector after Spec had interviewed Connor McDavid following an Edmonton loss.

* Mark asked if McD would prefer winning a 7-5 game instead of a 4-1 score.

* Peel foolishly called it an "idiotic question." Deservedly, Spector's sock-back was on target.

* Just for the record -- and the critics -- super stat star Eric Hornick. points out that Isles coach Lane Lambert's current 3-0-3 record is his longest streak behind the New York bench.

* A few decades ago this wasn't the case but nowadays goalie depth -- you'd better have three -- has become a league-wide issue.