Flyers’ Couturier recalls strained relationship with ex-coach Tortorella

VOORHEES, N.J.

When the captain of a team gets benched, the rest of the team realizes no one is safe from such discipline.If that was coach John Tortorellas intention when he planted Sean Couturier on the pine during the 2023-24 season (March 19-21), it probably did more harm than good.Shortly after, the Flyers who had been in a playoff spot for 124 days began a 1-8-1 nosedive that took them out of the playoffs.The repercussions of that situation, along with another one involving a second player (Cam York) this past month most likely weighed into the Flyers decision to part ways with Tortorella on March 27.As the Flyers began to empty their lockers at the Flyers Training Center on Friday, Couturier was asked about his reaction to Tortorellas firing.Couturier had seen his playing minutes dwindle at times but the problem went beyond that.If you look at the minutes and stuff, I think it tells you how I was kind of maybe being pushed aside, he said.

It is what it is.

Didnt agree with the way I was getting pushed aside, but I was just trying not to be a distraction.Thats the kind of player Couturier is.

Hes not going to make a stand to defend a belief.

He tries to do whats best for his team.I tried to keep my mouth shut, he said.

Put in the extra effort, get back to where I should be.

A lot of it is on me, too.

At times I needed to play better.With interim coach Brad Shaw behind the bench, players such as Couturier didnt appear to be playing with their nerves on high alert.Its behind us now, Couturier said.

Moving forward to whoever is here.

Well be buying in and doing whatever we can to get back in the winning column.

Getting back to the playoffs.Later in the day, York also met with the media and talked a bit about his much documented incident with Tortorella in late March.York had made a notable mistake in the game at Toronto on March 25.

He committed a misplay behind the Flyer net, then had the puck bounce off his leg into the goal.Tortorella yanked him with just 3:50 off the clock and made York watch the rest of the game from the bench.The two allegedly had a shouting match and emotions got really heated.

York wound up getting benched for the next game, at home vs.

Montreal.Gene J.

Puskar/APThe Flyers fired head coach John Tortorella in late March.

(Gene J.

Puskar/AP)Only thing was, Tortorella was fired that morning, so associate coach Brad Shaw was made interim head coach, starting with the game against the Canadiens.I dont think I had necessarily that much of a leash, York said.

At the end of the day, I didnt play to the level that I can.

And I think thats probably the most frustrating thing for me.To his credit, York also made himself accountable.You can say all you want about me and the coach, York said.

At the end of the day, I didnt do my part.

I didnt play good enough on my end.

Thats kind of how I look at that.Whether that tension played into a decision not to use York on the power play for most of the season remains to be seen.I know I can [succeed there], York said.

It was pretty clear early on that wasnt going to be the case.

I kind of could feel it.Of course I would have loved to be on the power play and maybe helped others a little bit.

It was just not how it was dealt this year.

So I just focused on my five-on-five game and tried to be the best I could there.Wayne Fish is a freelance writer.

Follow his coverage at www.flyingfishhockey.com.

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