Flyers’ Konecny Pulled, Then Benched in Statement Move

Even if Travis Konecny is feeling high because he made Team Canada, Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella isnt shy about sending a message to one of the teams best players and a clear star.

Konecnys undisciplined play during the third period of the Flyers loss to the Boston Bruins got him sat by his coach, who pulled no punches, calling Konecny too undisciplined.

After being pulled from the game by a concussion spotter, Konecny remained on the bench for the final 13:55 of the third period and overtimea move Tortorella confirmed was his decision.

Hes undisciplined.

Hes just too undisciplined, Tortorella said post-game.

It was clear Konecny was in the coachs doghouse, and Torts has an expectation of everyone, including his top guys and, soon to be, highest-paid ones.

This isnt the first time Tortorella has benched a key player to send a message, underscoring his no-nonsense approach to holding players accountable.

Fans on social media were mixed about the decision, many suggesting Konecny was not above the same treatment others would get.

Meanwhile, a portion of Flyers Nation said it wasnt the early 2000s, and Tortorella was foolish for benching his top guy in overtime.

The timing of Konecnys penalty was particularly costly, as the Flyers recently squandered another lead due to unnecessary penaltiesa point Tortorella has emphasized repeatedly.

Torts also gave an earful to the officials, calling them out for letting the Bruins get away with so much diving.

What Happens Next With Konecny? While Konecny is a key contributor, Tortorellas benching suggests the coach values discipline and structure over immediate results.

In other words, if he has to lose to send a message, Tortorella is willing to do so.

Konecnys play often sparks the Flyers offense, but his lapses in discipline can be problematic.

Is Tortorella upset enough that hell bench the player for the next game? He believes its essential to building a team that competes the right way.

All the while, what is Team Canada thinking? This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission..

This article has been shared from the original article on yardbarker, here is the link to the original article.