Philadelphia Flyers' coach John Tortorella, known for his harsh comments and tough standards for all players, surprised many by benching team captain Sean Couturier for two games in a row.
While everybody thought his string of controversy was done, he is back, with new comments that have caused a stir.
This week, he criticized his entire team sharply after they
lost a game in overtime to the New York Islanders. He called them "soft" and said the
only player who really played well was goalie Ivan Fedotov. Fedotov, who is from Russia and
very tall, was put in the game after Samuel Ersson let in two goals from just six shots.
«There are certain people who don't have a clue how to play, or just don't have it in them, to play in these situations," Tortorella said. "That's why I'm glad we're playing in them, because we have to figure things out as far as what we're going to become as a team."
«That was embarrassing in the second period for the Philadelphia Flyers uniform. High marks how we came back in the third, for some guys.»
Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau fires shots at John Tortorella's treatment of players
These comments sparked Bruce Boudreau, who has become an analyst following his firing from the Vancouver Canucks last year, to make these comments:
"I'll get into this, but who am I to critique, quite frankly, one of the most successful coaches in the League? But I'll say this. I played for 18 years, and after a while, to me, it starts to go in one ear and out the other.
I looked at the game last night ,and what I saw when they tied it up to make it 3-3 on the bench and ice, these guys care and give it all they have. I'd hate for that to happen and to come off, you're disappointed that you didn't get the extra point. But to say that nobody on the team except for one player was any good, if that's the way I read it wen I was listening, I just don't think that's the right way to go about it.
You've given them crap,
you've scratched your captain (Sean Couturier), and to hear that the coach said nobody played well and there was only one guy; and the only reason he said the one guy, the big goalie, is because he just got there and doesn't want to come down on him too early.
On the other hand, no one knows the room like he does. He knows how far he cam push these guys, and he thinks he can push them further. From an outsider looking in, I think they've been pushed enough.....I think it was too much last night. When I watched that, I said, 'Oh no, here we go again. What's he doing?'"
Do you think Bruce Boudreau is right, or is John Tortorella doing things the right way?
Source HockeyFeed:
Bruce Boudreau hits back at John Tortorella after latest fiery rant
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