The Philadelphia Flyers are certainly their own entity. From complete failures, to always staying in the news with some sort of drama or improbable thing happening to them; this team is certainly unique. But according to Flyers head coach John Tortorella, he can look at another team and see on-ice similarities.
When Tortorella was brought in, he was supposed to lay the foundation for the next great Flyers team. No expectation of success was made, but just to provide some stable ground and identity for a team that would hopefully be perennially in the playoffs and in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. And when the Carolina Hurricanes were in Philadelphia this past week, Tortorella decided to divulge what some of that foundation is.
While discussing the differences between the always-successful Hurricanes and the current Flyers, Tortorella made sure to point out that that other team is what he is trying to recreate in Philadelphia. Not exactly, but in his mind, when the Flyers are good again, they will look similar.
“We’re playing basically the same style, checking forward and all that,” Tortorella said at morning skate before the Flyers took on the Hurricanes on Wednesday. “I’m not sure how Roddy teaches it, but we want to press, we want to check forward, we want to take chances. I think it looks similar. I don’t think we’re as fast, I think they’re a bit deeper team than we are, but that is going to be the blueprint. As long as I have the opportunity to coach this team, that is going to be the blueprint.
“I think it’s important to have that blueprint for management as we start drafting players toward that, too. The style of play is a very important thing. It gives management and scouts the opportunity to kind of zero in on what type of players we’re looking for.”
That makes sense. The Flyers really are playing a hard-nosed style and when they have found success in games, is when they are looking at a quantity-over-quality approach when it comes to shooting the puck; which the Hurricanes have grown a stern reputation for.
What is most interesting is the differences Tortorella does see. He is laying out this plan, but it is just a personnel issue of not being fast enough or skilled enough or have enough talent all the way down the lineup, to finish those chances. If that is really all the difference is just in pure ability to execute, then it makes sense that he sees it as an opportunity to go out and get the players that can fit his scheme, rather than mold the scheme for his current players.
Another interesting point is that as long as he is behind the bench, that is going to be the plan. And with the immediate following point being about drafting players that can fit this mold — it certainly doesn’t seem like he is going anywhere, anytime soon.
The Flyers are already doing this, from what we can see, too. The past draft class all the way back in June now reeks of this mentality, for better or worse. Jett Luchanko is the prototypical player that should be able to (and has already) gel right into this plan seamlessly. Add in the big Jack Berglund, interesting center Heikki Ruohonen, and a high-ceiling defender like Spencer Gill; and then suddenly you can imagine what these prospects can become if they reach their potential, fitting right in with a team that plays like this.
Taking this draft mentality a step further — we understand several months have passed since the 2024 NHL Draft but we are still talking about it — and considering that they favored some positions over others, really spells out them laying out a plan and then just trying to find players that can fit that plan. Other than just best player available and making it work with their talent, they have set what they want and are looking for players to fit the Flyers.
Real interesting stuff that will now play a part in every transaction we see from here on out.
