[Article] Canucks Schedule: Can cantankerous John Tortorella sell rebuild in fan-frenzied Philly?

[RWJC]

Canucks Schedule: Can cantankerous John Tortorella sell rebuild in fan-frenzied Philly?

 

Rick Tocchet knows the Philadelphia Flyers have always had a seventh-man advantage.

 

The Vancouver Canucks head coach patrolled the wing in the “City of Brotherly Love” and saw firsthand how frenzied fans showed tough love on a nightly basis to hold the Flyers accountable. They would also say anything to get under the skin of the opposition, most of it not suitable for print.

 

“It’s an incredible fan base,” said Tocchet. “It’s as good as it gets. The games they play in there — it’s hard to win. When I wasn’t with Pittsburgh, they liked me. When I was, they hated me.”

 

However, the guy facing the biggest pressure Tuesday when the Flyers face the Canucks is former Vancouver bench boss John Tortorella. It’s the home opener.

 

The cantankerous coach, who has always been wired to win now, is attempting to guide the Flyers through a rebuild, which goes against his hockey DNA. Remember, “safe is death”? Remember how hard he has been on young players, even though it left the right lasting impression with some?

 

The Flyers have missed the post-season the past three seasons and have only advanced to the playoffs once in the past four. That’s going to bring about change. But can a coaching leopard change his spots? We’re going to find out.

 

Tortorella is often hardest on his best players — winger Travis Konecny was benched early last season and responded to lead the club in scoring with 61 points (31-30) in 60 games — so the message in the madness does get through.

 

The coach sees something of himself in the gritty, in-your-face irritant. He wanted those stingy summations of sub-par play to turn Konency into a more consistent and accountable force.

 

Konecny has three goals and four points through two games this season — a 4-2 win in Columbus on Thursday and 5-2 loss in Ottawa on Saturday — but Tortorella took issue with everything following the Senators setback.

 

“We’re not going to panic, but our penalty kill, our power play, our offence and our defence — we were outplayed in all categories,” he said. “We’ll look at the tape and dust ourselves off and get ready for Tuesday.”

 

The Canucks are buoyed by opening with a pair of victories over the Edmonton Oilers, who topped many pre-season predictions as Stanley Cup title worthy. Outscoring the Oilers 12-4 and showing a Rocky-like resilience to keep counterpunching before landing the last telling blow Saturday isn’t lost on Tocchet.

 

However, he knows this five-game trip will be a test to not duplicate mistakes.

 

“Nobody is dreading it. We’re prepared,” he said. “We have be comfortable, but uncomfortable. The leadership group understands this is business. You want to enjoy yourself and we have to show we’re a team that can play on the road and play under stress and pressure situations — whether we’re up or down. 

 

“That’s the key when you’re playing real quality teams.”

 

 

Here’s what the Canucks face in the coming week:

 

Canucks at Flyers

When and where: Tuesday at 3 p.m. | Wells Fargo Center

TV: SN Pacific | Radio: Sportsnet 650

 

Why watch: Can Canucks protect the house?

The Canucks surrendered their blue-line too often last season. “We have to change the narrative. That’s by backchecking, tracking and being in the right position. Guys are buying into that,” said Tocchet.

 

Who to watch: Centre J.T. Miller

He didn’t have a point and was held to just one shot Saturday in the 4-3 win at Edmonton. However, it was how Miller drove the play and drilled Leon Draisatil in the neutral zone with one of this game-high eight hits that impressed. Said Tocchet: “He never talks points, he talks a 200-foot game.”

 

 

Canucks at Lightning

When and where: Thursday at 4 p.m. | Amalie Arena

TV: SN Pacific | Radio: Sportsnet 650

Why watch: No Andrei Vasilevskiy to close door

 

The Bolts’ all-world stopper will miss the first two months of the season after surgery to address a disk herniation. Jonas Johnson faced 41 shots Saturday in a 6-4 loss at Detroit.

Who to watch: Centre Elias Pettersson

It’s not just his six points (1-5) through two games that gave the slick Swede a share of the early NHL scoring lead. It’s his presence in all zones and heavy hits to announce increased strength. “I’ve got more in me, so I’m ready to give it my all. I’ve got stronger and heavier,” said Pettersson.

 

 

Canucks at Panthers

When and where: Saturday at 7 p.m. | Amerant Bank Arena

TV: CBC, SN Pacific | Radio: Sportsnet 650

 

Why watch: Will lesser lights shine bright?

Two games in three nights and three in five are going to tax the top-six offensive mix. The Canucks will need what they had Saturday in Edmonton, crucial contribution goals from the bottom six forwards in Nils Hoglander, Jack Studnicka and Sam Lafferty.

Who to watch: Left winger Matthew Tkachuk

 

The one that got away on 2016 draft day had a dozen shots in his first two outings this season, but just two assists. He also took seven minutes in penalties. But 40-goal gunner is also a threat on any shift because his 69 assists in 2022-23 also spoke to prime playmaking ability.

 

 

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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[Roberts]

[JeremyCuddles]

The thing about Torterella is, he is viewed as the guy Babcock is. Which is really unfair to him. He is very well liked and well respected by a lot of his former players, Sedins were very complimentary of him. He is stern yes, but he'll go to war for you. Dude catches heat on behalf of the players. I like the guy, and there's a reason he keeps getting jobs. Cause the media and fan driven narratives about him being unlikable is ass. Dude was ready to throw hands to defend the Sedins from goonery. I really think he gets way more hate than he deserves.

[DrJockitch]

57 minutes ago, JeremyCuddles said:

The thing about Torterella is, he is viewed as the guy Babcock is. Which is really unfair to him. He is very well liked and well respected by a lot of his former players, Sedins were very complimentary of him. He is stern yes, but he'll go to war for you. Dude catches heat on behalf of the players. I like the guy, and there's a reason he keeps getting jobs. Cause the media and fan driven narratives about him being unlikable is ass. Dude was ready to throw hands to defend the Sedins from goonery. I really think he gets way more hate than he deserves.

It was tough the way that he was painted here. Management put it out in the media that he tried to stay in the US and not come in to practices. 
Losing his temper against Calgary is on him. He has earned his reputation good and bad but that was mostly because he really didn’t like some guys in the NY media and we all know what some of the weasels were like here. Overall he is a very good coach and likely has a great relationship with the players he fits with. He also is an asshole sometimes very publicly but we are all assholes sometimes just usually not as publicly. Do think he has learned and Philly is a great fit when he slips.

[Ghostsof1915]

He's been pretty mediocre the past decade. Once he left NY and Tampa, and doesn't have as much to work with his record has suffered.

I think honestly the game has passed him by. Rod Brind'Amour can be a tough coach, but he knows when and what buttons to push. He also leads by example.

I think Torts lets his emotions get the best of him, and that's a big weakness.

 

I honestly think Torts is overrated. He's a good short term solution, to give your team a jolt. But long term his message gets stale.

He's got his cup, no one can take that away from him.

Edited October 16, 2023 by Ghostsof1915

[Ghostsof1915]

1 hour ago, DrJockitch said:

It was tough the way that he was painted here. Management put it out in the media that he tried to stay in the US and not come in to practices. 
Losing his temper against Calgary is on him. He has earned his reputation good and bad but that was mostly because he really didn’t like some guys in the NY media and we all know what some of the weasels were like here. Overall he is a very good coach and likely has a great relationship with the players he fits with. He also is an asshole sometimes very publicly but we are all assholes sometimes just usually not as publicly. Do think he has learned and Philly is a great fit when he slips.

What else do you call it when the coach lives in Point Roberts, and won't live in town? He didn't hide that fact. I appreciate he loves dogs.

But I'd rather give a younger coach a shot. One that's paid the dues at the AHL level.

[IBatch]

3 hours ago, JeremyCuddles said:

The thing about Torterella is, he is viewed as the guy Babcock is. Which is really unfair to him. He is very well liked and well respected by a lot of his former players, Sedins were very complimentary of him. He is stern yes, but he'll go to war for you. Dude catches heat on behalf of the players. I like the guy, and there's a reason he keeps getting jobs. Cause the media and fan driven narratives about him being unlikable is ass. Dude was ready to throw hands to defend the Sedins from goonery. I really think he gets way more hate than he deserves.

Not sure how dislikes him, from a Canucks perspective, other teams...pretty long laundry list of guys who eventually quit on him and some who downright hate the guy.   He's a boomer Gen X coach that adapted.   Babcock is probably happy to be done with the NHL at this point. 

 

Edited October 16, 2023 by IBatch

[NewbieCanuckFan]

35 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

What else do you call it when the coach lives in Point Roberts, and won't live in town?

You seen house prices in Vancouver? (even then) 

[HuggyCareBear]

6 hours ago, JeremyCuddles said:

The thing about Torterella is, he is viewed as the guy Babcock is. Which is really unfair to him. He is very well liked and well respected by a lot of his former players, Sedins were very complimentary of him. He is stern yes, but he'll go to war for you. Dude catches heat on behalf of the players. I like the guy, and there's a reason he keeps getting jobs. Cause the media and fan driven narratives about him being unlikable is ass. Dude was ready to throw hands to defend the Sedins from goonery. I really think he gets way more hate than he deserves.

I agree.

 

He's the type of coach that will give you tough love sometimes but he will never take advantage of you. 

When it comes down to it, he will always back up his players.

 

BIG DIFFERENCE between him and Babcock. 

[IBatch]

6 hours ago, HuggyCareBear said:

I agree.

 

He's the type of coach that will give you tough love sometimes but he will never take advantage of you. 

When it comes down to it, he will always back up his players.

 

BIG DIFFERENCE between him and Babcock. 

He was here for one season and was given the boot.   Personally don't have any issue with a tough love hard ass coach.   However there is a huge laundry list of ex-players, that certainly didn't feel like he was "backing up" them up.   Coaches...snubbing Luongo was the last straw for him.    He really wanted to play that outdoor game.   That's not motivating the right way, and very disrespectful given the time invested into Vancouver.   Torts manages to keep coaching because he gets results.  

 

Babcock, also got results but i've never seen any coach as narcissistic as him either.   Referring to yourself in the third person validated what at the time I'd been saying for years, great teams make great coaches.   Great coaches also can make good teams great teams.    Babcock IMO, was a good coach on great teams.   
 

Babcock won a cup, 3 finals.   Another coach won a cup with ANA (and Burkie sure knew how to put the finishing touches and add playoff warriors).     Didn't think Babcock was the front runnier to coach team Canada, there were others, who also won cups(plural, and at the time were more relevant), and sure any of them also would have won a gold as head coach in 2014.    Babcock maximized his Detroit days into a ridiculous Toronto deal.   Said at the time, he won't last, never coached a team at that side of their cycle.   
 

Torts is a better coach IMO.  Both have one cup.    Torts also took NYR to the final.   CLB wasn't good but beat TB the favourites.   

 

Marner and a couple CLB players didn't like Babcock or were offended.    Torts...there are plenty of ex-players that still hate the guy.    Difference between the two, Torts has evolved.   Much like Hitchcock.   He was a total hard ass in Dallas.   He kept relevant in the league by changing his style.   Found the next generation of players (millienials) needed to be coddled at times, add therapist to his toolbox, a father figure and restrained himself from fear as a motivator.    Something boomers and GEN X,  had little to no issue with. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by IBatch

[RWJC]

[gwarrior]

What is he gonna do? Bum rush our dressing room?..........