Report: Philadelphia Flyers offer head coaching position to John Tortorella
The Philadelphia Flyers have offered John Tortorella the opportunity to fill their head coaching vacancy, according to a report by ESPN hockey analyst Kevin Weekes.
This latest report comes days after Daily Faceoff president of hockey content Frank Seravalli indicated the Flyers narrowed down their coaching search to a group of finalists — including Tortorella and ex-New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz.
Tortorella, 63, has served as the head coach of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
He won both the Stanley Cup and the Jack Adams Award with the Lightning in 2004, adding another Jack Adams to his trophy case in 2017 during his tenure with the Blue Jackets.
**Breaking News** 🚨📰
I’m told the @NHLFlyers have offered their HC position to John Tortorella. More negotiations required for deal to be completed. @GrittyNHL over to you ! @NHL @StanleyCup #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/ibAi51BoFf
After being hired by the Blue Jackets in 2015, Tortorella spent six seasons behind the bench in Columbus and oversaw the most successful on-ice period in franchise history.
The Blue Jackets qualified for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons (2017–2020), advancing in both 2019 and 2020 after going without a single playoff series win for nearly two decades after the franchise first took the ice in 2000.
Tortorella has led his teams to a combined 673–541–132–37 record over 20 regular seasons dating back to 1999–2000. His teams have gone 56–64 in 12 playoff appearances.
While being coached by Tortorella, the No. 8-seeded Blue Jackets swept the Lightning in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. To date, it remains Tampa’s last playoff series loss.
The Flyers have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2019, Alain Vigneault’s first season behind the bench in Philadelphia. Mike Yeo replaced Vigneault as Flyers head coach after an 8–10–4 start in 2021–22; Yeo led the Flyers to a 17–36–7 record down the stretch.
Tortorella spent the 2021–22 season as a studio analyst on ESPN hockey broadcasts.