SEARCH


Yandle slams Tortorella for scratching Hayes; says team has been outcoached

PUBLICATION
TJ Tucker
December 17, 2022  (8:32 PM)
SHARE THIS STORY

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella raised some eyebrows this week when announcing his team's leading scorer would be a healthy scratch. The veteran bench boss made it clear he didn't care that Hayes had the most goals on the Flyers, and could no longer overlook his defensive liabilities. Now, one of Hayes' former teammates is coming to his defence, and indicating the problem is not Hayes but Tortorella.

In a video released on Instagram by Keith Yandle, who spent the final year of his NHL career in Philadelphia, Hayes is a leader in the locker room and firmly believes scratching him accomplishes nothing.

"It's hard for me to realize that a guy like that won't be playing in a game because, maybe, the coach wants to get his point across, which is hard for me to see what the point is right now," said Yandle.

"Just even watching some of their games this year, it almost seems like they're being outcoached in a lot of those games," Yandle added about the Flyers. "That there are games that they could have won and, you know, maybe a decision that the coach has to make costs them a game."

"You talk about accountability and being there for the team, I think it's one of those things, is it the time maybe that a coach gets healthy scratched? Where the responsibility is brought upon himself?"

You can see the full video below. Hayes has 9 goals and 29 points in 31 games this season. He currently sits at a minus-12.

TRENDING NOW
2025-2026
NHL STANDINGS
GPWLOLPTS
Sabres8250239109
Lightning8250266106
Canadiens82482410106
Bruins82452710100
Senators8244271199
Red Wings8241311092
Panthers824038484
Maple Leafs8232361478
GPWLOLPTS
Hurricanes8253227113
Penguins8241251698
Flyers8243271298
Capitals824330995
Blue Jackets8240301292
Islanders824334591
Devils824237387
Rangers823439977
GPWLOLPTS
Avalanche82551611121
Stars82502012112
Wild82462412104
Mammoth824333692
Blues8237331286
Predators8238341086
Jets8235351282
Blackhawks8229391472
GPWLOLPTS
Golden Knights8239261795
Oilers8241301193
Ducks824333692
Kings8235272090
Sharks823935886
Kraken8234371179
Flames823439977
Canucks822549858
COMPLETE STANDINGS