In a four-year deal signed last week, Tortorella became the 23rd coach in the Flyers' history
Which Flyers will thrive under new coach?
John Tortorella may not be the right choice for everyone
People tend to have a love-hate relationship with him because of his brutal honesty and hard-nosed approach to hockey coaching.
Tortorella's style has had a significant impact on the careers of a number of players, and it is impossible to deny this. Daniel and Henrik Sedin, once the dynamic duo of the Vancouver Canucks, had one of their worst seasons under the fiery coach, as it didn't go well for everyone. Brandon Dubinsky, who had a tumultuous relationship with Tortorella that included two tours, recently spoke out about it on social media.
This week, we'll focus on the bright side and try to predict which Flyers will have the most success under new coach John Tortorella, who was hired as the team's 23rd head coach last week after signing a four-year deal.
In Columbus, under the tutelage of Tortorella, Sergei Bobrovsky reaped the rewards of the coach's emphasis on accountability and shot suppression. It took Bobrovsky three full seasons to finish in the top ten of the Vezina voting and win his second career trophy while playing for the Blue Jackets under Tortorella. On the season, Bobrovsky had a.931 save percentage and 33.5 goals saved above average while winning 41 of his 63 starts. Every year under Tortorella, Henrik Lundqvist finished in the top 10 in Vezina voting. Despite the fact that Lundqvist finished in the top 10 ten times, he never missed in six seasons under Tortorella and won the Stanley Cup in 2012.
What can we expect from Hart in this regard? Although it's still early in his career, Hart can look forward to receiving defensive support for the first time in his career.
Ivan Provorov: Doesn't it seem like the ideal match?
Tortorella is a fan of hard workers, and in the offseason, nobody works harder than Provorov. After reports that the Russian defenseman was dissatisfied, the smart money is now on him staying put and becoming a much more valuable asset under Tortorella's tutelage this season.
There is no doubt that Tortorella is a fan of penalty killers and shot blockers, but he also deserves credit for allowing his defensemen to play a role in the offence. Each of Seth Jones and Zach Werenski had three seasons with 40+ points or more under Tortorella, with Jones scoring 57 points in 2017-18, when he finished in the top four of voting for the Norris Trophy.
The fact that Provorov isn't the team's top option on the power play means that his offensive numbers won't be as impressive, but as an all-around player, they should be.
A 41-goal season in 2018-19 was Cam Atkinson's best year under Tortorella. Even though Atkinson had a rough two seasons under Tortorella, scoring just 27 goals in 100 games, the magic could still be resurrected. The new coach may give Atkinson a more prominent role as a trusted member of the team.
Almost forgotten after Couturier missed the majority of last season, he's still a Selke contender and seems to play Tortorella's style away from the puck. After missing the previous four seasons due to injury, Couturier should be a strong candidate to flourish under the new coach and produce nearly a point per game again.
Kevin Hayes: Tortorella seemed excited during his Zoom meeting with reporters about unlocking another part of Hayes' game, but there is no history or major comparisons.
Tortorella is looking forward to working with Kevin. It occurs to me that there may be more to this. For this team, I believe he's a critical piece in the middle of the ice.
News Source: https://northeasttimes.com/2022/06/20/which-flyers-will-thrive-under-new-coach/
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