The Philadelphia Flyers have fired coach John Tortorella as the team sits in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference. The team also announced associate coach Brad Shaw will take the reins as Philadelphia’s interim head coach.
“Today I made the very difficult decision to move on from John as our head coach,” Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said in a statement. “John played a vital role in our rebuild. He set a standard of play and re-established what it means to be a Philadelphia Flyer. … As we move into the next chapter of this rebuild, I felt this was the best for our team to move forward.”
Tortorella spent the last three seasons as the Flyers’ coach and led the team to a 97-107-33 record during that span. The Flyers are currently in a rebuilding phase and are on a six-game losing streak, including losing 11 of their last 12 contests.
Most recently, the Flyers suffered a 7-2 loss at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, bringing Philadelphia’s record to 28-36-9 (65 points) on the year.
Shaw has been a member of Philadelphia’s coaching staff since July 2022 and previously served as an interim coach with the New York Islanders during the 2005-06, accumulating a 18-18-4 record.
Tortorella was originally hired by the Flyers during the 2022 offseason and was tasked with coaching a young Flyers team. The Flyers failed to make the playoffs in any of Tortorella’s three seasons at the helm.
The Flyers have the fifth-fewest points across the NHL and likely will land a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Philadelphia owns 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, including three first-round selections Briere has amassed in trades over recent seasons.
The Philadelphia Flyers made a bold move this week by firing head coach John Tortorella and promoting assistant coach Brad Shaw to take over the reins. The decision comes after a dismal stretch for the team, which has seen them struggle to find consistency and fall to the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference.
Tortorella, who was hired in the offseason to bring a tough, defensive-minded approach to the team, failed to deliver the results that management had hoped for. The Flyers have been plagued by defensive lapses, inconsistent goaltending, and a lack of scoring punch throughout the season. With the team mired in a six-game losing streak and sitting near the bottom of the standings, it became clear that a change was needed.
Enter Brad Shaw, who has been with the Flyers organization since 2019 and has served as an assistant coach under Tortorella. Shaw brings a wealth of coaching experience to the table, having previously served as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets. He is known for his strong defensive acumen and ability to connect with players, making him a natural choice to take over as head coach.
Shaw’s promotion comes at a critical juncture for the Flyers, who are looking to turn their season around and make a push for the playoffs. With a talented roster that includes stars like Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, and Carter Hart, there is no shortage of potential for success. Shaw will look to instill a new sense of urgency and accountability in the team, while also implementing his own strategic vision for how the Flyers should play.
While it remains to be seen whether Shaw can right the ship and lead the Flyers to success, one thing is clear: change was necessary. The team was in need of a fresh voice and a new direction, and Shaw now has the opportunity to prove that he is the right man for the job. Flyers fans will be watching closely to see how the team responds to the coaching change and whether they can turn their season around in time to salvage a playoff berth.
