Tortorella Slams Flyers’ Locker Room Culture, Demands Change

The Philadelphia Flyers haven’t taken the ice yet for the 2022-23 campaign, but head coach John Tortorella has already cited a major problem with the team going into camp: the dressing room.

Tortorella discussed his concerns with SiriusXM NHL Network on Wednesday and didn’t hold back.

“As far as the room, I have major concerns about the room,” Tortorella said on the show. “I’ve spent the summer going back and forth. I live in New York, and I go back and forth to Philly trying to relocate there. But spent some time in the office talking to players, talking to personnel, talking to Chuck [Fletcher], all the front office. And I have major concerns about what goes on in there.”

Philadelphia hasn’t qualified for the playoffs for two straight seasons and three of the last four years. The Flyers have also only made it past the first round once in the last decade and haven’t made it past Round 2 since their Stanley Cup Final run in 2010.

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Taking that into account, the bench boss expects change and a step in the right direction for the dressing room. He believes that a winning culture will start there, and that without Claude Giroux leading the way, new voices will have to step up to make a difference.

“Before we even step onto the ice, situations and standards and accountability in the room is forefront. And you can’t get squad done on the ice until you get your room straightened out. And I think we have a little bit of work to do there,” Tortorella noted.

The 64-year-old longtime coach also added that he is in “no rush” to name a new captain to replace Giroux given the team’s current culture. Once that changes, he’ll find a new player to don the “C.”