Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella Surprisingly Defends Chuck Fletcher From Critics During Interview
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S. HarperMarch 6, 2023 (10:37)
To say it's been a rough year in Philadelphia would be an absolute understatement. The fans, media and hockey analysts are very critical of the team and General Manager Chuck Fletcher.
Fletcher has done very little, next-to-nothing to improve the Flyers at the deadline and even turned down a trade with the Red Wings for pending UFA Jame Van Riemsdyk, who's likely not going to be re-signed, letting him walk without acquiring anything in return.
It seems as if fans have reached their breaking point with Fletcher and they let him know about it when he was openly booed at a recent season ticket holders town hall.
That seemingly has not sat well with the team's head coach, who over the weekend laid into those same critics for pointing their fingers at Fletcher:
Must read on FlyersInsider
"Do you not think he tried to move him?" said Tortorella as per The Philadelphia Inquirer, referencing Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk. "Are you guys kidding me? He tried like hell to move him. There's so many different scenarios that went on. And I just don't get the criticism towards Flethcer because of James still being here. It's like Chuck held on to [him].
I just don't want you to manufacture criticism of Chuck, at this point in time, at the deadline, because something sexy didn't happen,» Tortorella said. «Nothing sexy was going to happen. I think we all understand that, don't we going into this? Is that we're ... expiring contracts, we're trying to gain assets. That's the key. And [Fletcher] tried.»
- John Tortorella
I just don't want you to manufacture criticism of Chuck, at this point in time, at the deadline, because something sexy didn't happen,» Tortorella said. «Nothing sexy was going to happen. I think we all understand that, don't we going into this? Is that we're ... expiring contracts, we're trying to gain assets. That's the key. And [Fletcher] tried.»
- John Tortorella
I'm not a Psychic but if I had to make a prediction don't be surprised to see Fletcher be relived of his duties as the Flyers season ends. Fletcher has had 5 years and he's honestly made the team worse off than they were when he was hired back in 2018.
| POLL | ||
6 MARS | 172 ANSWERS Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella Surprisingly Defends Chuck Fletcher From Critics During Interview Would Danny Briere make a better GM than Chuck Fletcher? | ||
| Yes | 156 | 90.7 % |
| No | 16 | 9.3 % |
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