John Tortorella at the Center of Pressing Issues in Philadelphia
John Tortorella is struggling to create any type of chemistry with the Philadelphia Flyers, as he has already experimented with a staggering 18 forward combinations.
The Philadelphia Flyers have flashed moments of offensive brilliance, but the inability to finish scoring chances has been an ongoing problem. In the recent 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on October 22, the Flyers did create prime chances but just couldn't seal the deal. The inability to convert for the team is partly due to how often head coach John Tortorella changes his lineup that, while meant to spark the offense, has disrupted the flow and chemistry required to score successfully. Torts has already experimented with a whopping 18 forward line combinations this season:
Building chemistry on the ice isn't the easiest thing. It takes some time, consistency, and trusting fellow linemates to develop into instinctive play that helps when trying to score in tight situations. That's when players have an idea of where their teammates are supposed to be, allowing them to not have to overthink the game and instead make better split-second decisions. Of all of the line juggling the Flyers have done so far, no combination of forwards has been able to develop that sort of chemistry, as each different combination means a change in roles and style of play for the on-ice players, which equates to a loss of rhythm and cohesion.
That instability reared its head against Washington, where the Flyers were getting high-quality chances but could not score much. The effort and opportunities were there, but players not used to playing with one another created hesitation at key moments. Meanwhile, the two most skilled forwards on the roster, Matvei Michkov and Morgan Frost, who at different moments showed signs of brilliance when playing with each other, have since been separated and sent to different lines.
This continuous juggling by John Tortorella does not allow promising partnerships to develop but also denies players the confidence and instinct to execute a play in scoring situations. This, along with the Flyers' abysmal start of 1-4-1, has led many to question whether a coaching change may be necessary before the season gets too far gone. Tortorella has only been the coach of the Flyers for two full seasons up until this point and is no stranger to being fired after a short time, only lasting in Vancouver for a year back in the 2013-2014 season.
Beyond the tactical issues, these changes have a very real psychological component that cannot be ignored. As forwards start to second-guess their decisions, they begin over-handling the puck or letting opportunities pass as they settle into constantly redefined positions. This type of hesitancy was well on display against the Capitals, where both players and coaches acknowledged players "gripping the stick too tight." No stability means players aren't able to follow their instincts, and with that comes missed chances and frustration. The team needs stability and time to build the chemistry, not constant adjustment, as they need players like Michkov and Bobby Brink to step up.
Although all this moving of the lines by John Tortorella to get the Flyers' offense going might be understandable, his ways of constantly changing the lines may be more hurtful than helpful. For the Flyers, stability is what's needed first and foremost so that the players can work themselves into relationships and rhythms that translate into production.
The key to unlocking high-octane offense isn't in doing more tinkering but in trusting the players over time to find their groove. Stability, patience, and chemistry will be the bedrock on which a more productive Flyers offense is to be built. Whether the organization chooses to remain patient with Tortorella or makes a coaching change to fix these issues, remains to be seen but the Flyers won't find success if Tortorella keeps clipping their wings.
