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Penguins' Archrivals Announce New Coach as Flyers Part Ways with John Tortorella
Photo credit: TSN video screenshot
There has been a shocking turn of events today, as the Penguins' archrivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, have fired their head coach, John Tortorella.
The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that the team has relieved John Tortorella of his duties as their head coach.
Philadelphia Flyers Associate Coach, Brad Shaw, has been named the interim head coach and will assume all duties immediately, according to General Manager Daniel Briere.
"Today I made the very difficult decision to move on from John as our head coach," said Briere. "John played a vital role in our rebuild. He set a standard of play and re-established what it means to be a Philadelphia Flyer.
John's passion on the bench was only equaled by his charitable work in our community. As we move into the next chapter of this rebuild, I felt this was the best for our team to move forward. I'd like to thank John for his tireless work and commitment to the Flyers."
John's passion on the bench was only equaled by his charitable work in our community. As we move into the next chapter of this rebuild, I felt this was the best for our team to move forward. I'd like to thank John for his tireless work and commitment to the Flyers."
Shaw has a ton of prior coaching experience
Shaw is 60 years old and is in his third season with the team after joining the Flyers coaching staff in July 2022. He spent the 2021-22 season as the assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks.
He previously served as an assistant for five years with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2016-17 to 2020-21, where he helped lead the team to a very solid 193-133-46 record in 372 regular-season games.
Columbus also earned a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four of five years with Shaw behind the bench.
Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, Shaw was the assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues from 2006-07 to 2011-12 and the associate coach from 2012-13 to 2015-16.
He was also a part of the coaching staff with the New York Islanders as an assistant for the 2005-06 season, and he finished the year as the team's head coach with a mediocre 18-18-4 record.
It's safe to say that Shaw has a ton of experience under his belt, and he is now tasked with turning this franchise around.
| POLL | ||
MARS 27 | 159 ANSWERS Penguins' Archrivals Announce New Coach as Flyers Part Ways with John Tortorella Will John Tortorella ever coach in the NHL again? | ||
| Yes | 85 | 53.5 % |
| No | 74 | 46.5 % |
| List of polls | ||