John Tortorella defends Flyers’ disappointing offseason

Flyers head coach John Tortorella does not want to hear any criticism about his team’s offseason.

While other teams around the NHL have been heralded for improving their squads in the first few weeks of the summer, Philadelphia has arguably stayed fairly stagnant after finishing 29th overall last season. After missing out on hometown boy Johnny Gaudreau, signing bottom-six forward Nic Deslauriers to a long-term deal, and acquiring controversial blueliner Tony DeAngelo, a good portion of the fan base has loads of questions and even more pessimism about where their team is heading.

Tortorella will have none of that.

“I’m a little pissed off about some of the things said about a couple of the players and Tony DeAngelo, at least some of the things I’ve read. I haven’t read them all, I don’t spend my day trying to listen to everybody, what they’re talking about,” Tortorella

“Tony DeAngelo’s a hell of a player, Tony DeAngelo has personality. Is he going to say and do some stupid stuff? You’re damn right he is. But I’d rather have a guy doing stupid stuff than having a choir boy here just going about your business. You don’t win that way, you don’t win championships, you don’t build a team without any personality. Tony’s going to bring that and, plus, he’s a hell of a player.”

The 26-year-old blueliner has been steeped in controversy throughout his entire hockey career. From being suspended in junior hockey for on the ice, to getting in r and eventually having to be bought out by the Rangers, resulting in him of the 2020-21 season. It has been well documented how much of a headache this single player can be for a team but earlier this offseason, Philadelphia spent a few draft picks to from Carolina and signed him to a two-year, $10-million deal.

In addition to bringing in the infamous figure, the Flyers were unable to bring the…