Couturier explains difficult relationship with Tortorella: ‘It was hard’

Sean Couturier revealed that his time with former Flyers head coach John Tortorella was “just alright.”

From the outside looking in Sean Couturier and John Tortorella didn’t agree sometimes. But in a recent interview with RG Media, Couturier shed some more light on what the relationship between the current captain and the former Flyers head coach was like. In short, it didn’t sound great. Not by a long shot.

“It was just alright. I’m not gonna lie,” Couturier, who was a healthy scratch last season after the Flyers officially named him captain, told the outlet. “I think throughout the last year and a half and what was portrayed in the media—yeah, there wasn’t much of a relationship, I would say. We didn’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things, and it was hard, but I just tried to work with him and do what’s best for the team because that’s my job as the captain.”

The wide-ranging interview also dealt with the Cam York and Tortorella situation which allegedly was what led to the coach being fired with nine games remaining. Couturier said he wasn’t going to get into specifics but said “it was a difficult situation for everyone involved.”

Couturier, who has seen his game improve thanks to playing with Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny, said he felt the team “had to be better” and needed to improve on last year’s record, playing meaningful games to get into the playoffs. Those feelings were there last summer but didn’t know if a step backwards would mean the coach being fired. He was also apparently caught offguard by the timing of the firing.

“The way we played as a team this year, we just kind of took a step back,” Couturier said. “We knew changes were coming, but that was a little surprising. I mean, to see it happen with just nine games left in the year, yeah, I didn’t see that. That being said, you know someone is going to take a fall, and that happens. It’s tough because you don’t want to be part of that when you’re a leader and you feel like you can do better. I know I can, and I will.”

The interview also addressed Tortorella’s relationship with Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov. Michkov was a healthy scratch for two games during the season while also being benched a few occasions during games for what Tortorella saw as miscues. Couturier and Michkov weren’t the only one who ended up in Tortorella’s doghouse over his tenure here. Hell, damn near everyone was in his crosshairs at some point. But Couturier said Michkov’s “character” helped the Russian winger get through some of the hurdles in dealing with the demanding head coach.

“He was frustrated and mad, and that’s a good thing because you know he cares, but he didn’t let it drag him down, and now you see that paying off,” Couturier said of his linemate. “He wants to be a difference-maker out there, and he wants to be the player his teammates can depend on. He’s doing that, and it’s only just the beginning, so I’m so excited to watch him grow as a player, a teammate, and a person.”

Couturier added that while the team is “disappointed in the way the season’s gone,” they are hoping to finish “as strong as we can” in the last week of the season.

Heading into the game against Columbus, Couturier has six points in the past seven games since Tortorella’s dismissal. It’s a strong possibility he’ll end the season in the 45-point range as he currently sits at 43 (15 goals, 28 assists).