John Tortorella healthy scratches himself again

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Josh tupper
April 4, 2023 (4:17 PM)

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With the Philadelphia Flyers playoff chances now at zero, John Tortorella has taken a unique approach to coach. That unique approach? Not coaching at all.

Last summer Tortorella signed what he called, "the last contract of his career". Fast forward less than 12 months and it appears Tortorella is already taken steps towards succession planning. Before the Flyers last week Tortorella announced he wouldn't be watching the game behind the bench. Instead, he'd be sitting with new General Manager, Daniel Briere in the press box.

Tonight will be no different for the Flyers as Torts has again pulled himself from behind the bench and has decided to once again let an Associate Coach take over.

Rocky Thompson will stand behind the @NHLFlyers bench tonight as acting Head Coach as they take on the @StLouisBlues, marking only a handful of times two First Nations coaches have faced off against each other in the #NHL.

Tortorella will be watching the game from the press box.

This unique approach could be seen as the Flyers already looking towards the future. Or it could just be Tortorella's way of sharing his live perspective with his new GM. Either way it's a great opportunity for Thompson to show off his abilities.