Sean Couturier about to get healthy scratched 34 days after being named the new Flyers' Captain

[Obvious Fabertism]

I don’t watch Philly much at all, but the few games I have seen of them this season, I was surprised by how poor Couturier looked. While this is still surprising timing wise, it’s not entirely out of left field. The player response to the media has to be concerning though.

My profile pic is probably a good summation of his season so far.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Who scratches a new captain???

Who names a cripple captain ? Who hires Torts ? The Flyers of course.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Hockey isn’t a video game. Relationships are such a big part of the game. So you win some games? It’s not resulting in a Cup for his teams. Hasn’t for a long time.

You create an environment where players don’t want to play for the team and hate the coach.

Torts “wins” aren’t worth it. He’s not the only guy that can get a team to over perform the results they can get. You are also almost certainly going to find someone who can manage relationships better.

He also rarely starts with talent.

 

[Terry Yake]

Tortorella is notorious for "losing the room" everywhere he coaches. Maybe he is trying to speed run it this year like he did in Vancouver.

hopefully they put a bed into his office like they did in vancouver

 

[TheGoldenJet]

I heard he also told him to turn in his phone

I heard Couturier’s phone didn’t pass the standard team inspection, which was done in consultation with Babcock phone inspection services co.

 

[Daz28]

1) Three players were scratched.
2) 1 assist in his last nine games
3) sends the message to the rest of the team: "if this keeps up, you are next".

Honestly surprised it took this long.

I'm surprised players still need to be reminded that poor play might result in a healthy scratch. LOL

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

He probably deserves to be scratched.

Need more coaches like this on many teams

 

[joestevens29]

1) Three players were scratched.
2) 1 assist in his last nine games
3) sends the message to the rest of the team: "if this keeps up, you are next".

Honestly surprised it took this long.

With Philly still right there in the hunt I like this call by Torts. Make it now instead of 5 games from now when things could look drastically different in the standings.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Tort's ego has been especially needy lately.

I would've thought the not leaving the game stunt would've sated him for at least a month or two.

 

[stevo61]

Tortorella is notorious for "losing the room" everywhere he coaches. Maybe he is trying to speed run it this year like he did in Vancouver.

Im still waiting to see a coach that doesnt lose the room at some point

 

[SensontheRush]

No player is above being scratched. This isn't a Mike Modano not reaching 1500 games thing.

I'm surprised by the response on HFBoards... Or should I be? Some really weird energy. People are feeling slighted and insecure for Couturier? If this guy is a competent professional he will respond accordingly. As a captain, he will lead by example how to handle being scratched for a game.

 

[CupofOil]

Torts is a terrible coach. Has no ability to manage relationships. His style will have a team not bottom out with the results they could’ve got because he scares his players into giving everything every shift, but it doesn’t work and create a winner over a sustained period of time.

Terrible coach? I'm gonna have to disagree with that one. Turned around a Lightning franchise that had no success prior to his arrival and won a Cup with them, successful with the Rangers, led the Blue Jackets to the playoffs 4 straight years a franchise that only made the playoff 2 other times in their 24 year history and now has the Flyers overachieving.

You can say that he wears out his welcome at every stop but he's a very good coach, the results are proof of this. You, and others, might not like his coaching methods but they've worked time and time again. His teams win.

 

[Hextallent63]

Or maybe it's load management?

Check out couts' interview after practice.

 

[PanniniClaus]

There are plenty of my fellow Leaf fans that are dying for Keefe to do something like this.. I assume Torts weighed to pros and cons and decided a message needs to be sent and his captain has to wear this one. He's got brass balls... doing it against the Leafs where there will be a pile of focus on it

 

[Hextallent63]

This. People can say what they want about Torts, but he holds players accountable in a consistent way. Everyone has to perform.

The vast majority of NHL coaches would never scratch a respected veteran like that. Double standards for young players and coaches favourites.

Torts isn't doing this. He was scratching Frost a lot earlier in the season, but he's earned his way up the lineup.

Frost never lost his spot in the lineup He's been good all season. Couts has also been good all season. He slowed down points wise so towards decided to start playing him with some of the worst players in the league which completely terminated any production you'd expect from coots. Then he scratched him.

 

[SensontheRush]

The most cursed franchise in the league got all of their franchise playoff wins, including the biggest underdog sweep of all time, under his tenure. The hate and lack of understanding Torts receives is ludicrous.

When the true professionals universally praise and excel under Torts, and the wimpy wimp man babies complain to the media, you get a good enough read of his character.

Couturier's full quote to the media is pretty good though:

https://x.com/billmeltzer/status/1770128214469361957?s=20

 

[Hextallent63]

1) Three players were scratched.
2) 1 assist in his last nine games
3) sends the message to the rest of the team: "if this keeps up, you are next".

Honestly surprised it took this long.

This just isn't true or accurate in any way shape or form. He is run out of people to scratch and refuses to scratch players that he loves. I mean with all due respect if you know you know, and you don't know.

 

[DRW895]

He missed to much after all healt issues. He never be the same again

 

[Green Blank Stare]

He has 36 points on the season. Elias Lindholm on the Canucks status.

 

[Jetsfan79]

I don't think this is a case of Torts just flexing his muscles . But based on Sean's comments, there is a definate disconnect between player and coach. Either the player is not being wholy truthful about giving it his all, or Torts is failing to recognize this. You don't sit your captain coming off injury just to get other guys more playing time. You do it if there's a clear issue as to why. End of day, usually coach is responsible for this sort of disconnect.

The best coaches are not just the ones who communicate well with their players. But are also the ones who create a synergy and trust wherein both player and coach are in gerneral agreement on performance level.

 

[abo9]

I read the first two pages quickly .. any Flyers fan wants to chime in on Couturier's play as of late? Stats checking doesnt paint a pretty picture for the last month.

2012, 2013, 2019, 2020?

And that 20 years carefully cuts off consecutive division titles, a conference title, and a Cup win.

And it carefully ignores that he cosched Columbus, and now Philadelphia for a lot of that time frame.

 

[abo9]

I don't think this is a case of Torts just flexing his muscles . But based on Sean's comments, there is a definate disconnect between player and coach. Either the player is not being wholy truthful about giving it his all, or Torts is failing to recognize this. You don't sit your captain coming off injury just to get other guys more playing time. You do it if there's a clear issue as to why. End of day, usually coach is responsible for this sort of disconnect.

The best coaches are not just the ones who communicate well with their players. But are also the ones where create a synergy and trust wherein both player and coach are in gerneral agreement on performance level.

I mean, Couturier can work his ass off, but if he sucks on the ice, then thats a problem. Coming off an injury doesnt matrer either. Torts is paid to win games, he better ice the best line up he can with what he works with. In this case, if Noah Cates gives him better performances than Couturier... he gotta sit Couturier.

Agreed that there seems to be a disconnect and thats a bad sign though.

 

[Winston Wolf]

I read the first two pages quickly .. any Flyers fan wants to chime in on Couturier's play as of late? Stats checking doesnt paint a pretty picture for the last month.



And it carefully ignores that he cosched Columbus, and now Philadelphia for a lot of that time frame.

He's slowed down in the second half of the season which could be due to over usage earlier in the season, but he's still one of the best forwards on the team.

Tortorella named him captain, then immediately slashed his ice time and put him on the 4th line with Nick ****ing Deslauriers. No one is producing with his usage right now.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Who names a cripple captain ? Who hires Torts ? The Flyers of course.

Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do, we do
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do, we do
Who holds back the elctric car?
Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?
We do, we do
Who robs gamefish of their site?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do, we do!

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Can't treat bunch of grown men who are making millions of dollars like college kids - don't care whatever Couturier says to the media - this will be a huge problem, not just to him but most of the other players too, Torts will lose all respect.

As player you also quickly lose respect for coach that are not holding everyone accountable the same way. While you understand you might get more rope when you are established, it doesn't go forever.

He gived enough games to Couturier to show some life but he had not. You can't consistently give shit to rookie and protect a few golden goose without negative impact.