Tortorella hired as Flyers coach, replaces Yeo

Tortorella, who will turn 64 on June 24, replaces Mike Yeo, who was fired May 3. He worked as a television analyst for ESPN this season and confirmed May 24 he had discussions with Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher.

“I am very excited to be joining such a historic and well-respected franchise like the Philadelphia Flyers,” Tortorella said. “From my very first conversation with Chuck, I knew this was the right fit for me and I believe in the direction this team is heading.

“Having faced the Flyers for several years, I know first hand how tough of a city Philly is to play in and I look forward to being on the right side of the bench on opening night in front of such a loyal and passionate crowd of Flyers fans.”

Tortorella most recently coached the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2015-21. He is 673-541-132 with 37 ties in 1,383 games as coach of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks and Blue Jackets. The 14th-winningest coach in NHL history, Tortorella ranks second on the League all-time list for most wins by a United States-born coach, behind Peter Laviolette (717).

A two-time winner of the Jack Adams Award voted as NHL coach of the year (2004, 2017), Tortorella guided the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2004, and the Blue Jackets to their first Stanley Cup Playoff series victory in 2019, when they became the first team to sweep the winner of the Presidents’ Trophy (Tampa Bay) in a best-of-7 series.

“I am very happy to bring in John to be the next head coach and voice behind the bench of the Flyers,” Fletcher said. “John demands the best out of his players every single game. He is a Stanley Cup Champion and has a lengthy track record of both regular season and playoff success.

“During the interview process we discussed a number of factors that are crucial to bring this team immediate success and it became clear to me that his vision and style makes him the right person to restore a winning environment to our locker room.”

The Flyers finished 25-46-11 this season, last in the Metropolitan Division. They have missed the playoffs six times in the past 10 seasons and have advanced past the first round once (in 2020, when they lost to the New York Islanders in seven games in the Stanley Cup Second Round) since 2012.

Tortorella is the third coach hired since the conclusion of the regular season; Bruce Cassidy was named Vegas Golden Knights coach on Tuesday and Lane Lambert replaced Barry Trotz for the New York Islanders on May 16. The Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets each are conducting a search for a coach. Rick Bowness stepped down as Stars coach on May 20.