VOORHEES, N.J. – Everything was going right for 124 days.
Then it all came apart in seemingly the blink of an eye.
Sure, there were plenty of factors which led to the disappointing end to the Flyers’ 2023-24 season.
Teams around the National Hockey League were finding ways to defend the Flyers’ uptempo style. In fact, over the last 13 games, Philadelphia produced only 29 goals and went 3-8-2.
In addition, rookie goaltender Samuel Ersson was probably overworked and often left out to dry by his defense. In one ugly encounter, the Flyers surrendered nine goals to the non-playoff Montreal Canadiens.
But perhaps the headline reason for the collapse begins with coach John Tortorella, who after Thursday’s opening day of training camp accepted a big chunk of the blame.
“My biggest regret is I don’t think we played well enough in the ‘areas’ at the end of the year,” the coach said at the Flyers Training Center. “I don’t think I put enough time into that. As coaches always talk about, come late in the year, that neutral zone always shuts down.
“I think we were probably one of the best transition teams in the league (during the regular season). I think my blinders were on. In watching us play that quickly and quite well, I think we struggled finishing.
“I did not do a good enough job in making sure we could play another way. I think that hurt us.”
It’s up to the Flyers to make sure a similar mishap doesn’t take place this season. Tortorella, entering his third year at the helm, will be responsible there won’t be a repeat.
Some of it will depend on Ersson and his partner, Ivan Fedotov.
“I thought our goaltending, it struggled and rightfully so,” Tortorella said. “It’s not to blame ‘Ers,’ I wore him out. But at that point in time, we felt he was the best one to give us an opportunity. And it was kind of force-fed to him. That hurt us.
“But the one thing that has bothered me all summer: I think I let the team down and didn’t put enough effort or focus into rebounds, deflections, playing under the hash (marks). Creating some offense through some grind when we needed it.”
True, the Flyers do play an uptempo style. Now it will be a case of when to employ that strategy and maybe when to back off.
“Our goaltending struggled but we didn’t score any goals, either,” the coach said. “That’s why we ended up whatever we were.
“That falls on me. That’s something I thought about and it’s going to be a point of emphasis this year.”
A reporter pointed out this is Tortorella’s third year with the Flyers but he might still have some learning to do.
“Absolutely,” Tortorella said. “Every year, if you’re a head coach and you’re not trying to evolve, it could get ugly really quick. With this team, it’s year three, right? A big part of this team we’ve had.
“Do they get comfortable with us? Sometimes it’s human nature, maybe just give a little bit because now they know us and we know them. And I love the team and I told them that. The room has been fantastic.”
That said, both sides have to come to an understanding.
“Do you give a little bit?” the coach said. “Or am I leaving them alone too much at certain times because I trust them? I have to coach them differently. . .I’ve had them three years, I have to respect they’ve improved. How much do I change? That’s what is running through my head right now.
“Year three is such an important year in a program because of human nature. You don’t want to cheat but you kind of give sometimes – I know them, I don’t need to lean on them. Those are the things I’ve got to coach myself and coach with the team.”
