How future of Rocky Thompson on Flyers bench ties into Tortorella’s future too

As the season winds down, and the Flyers find themselves out of the playoff parking lot and en route to a possible top five (dare we say top three?) draft pick this June in Los Angeles, a lot of questions are coming up.

The goaltending has been suspect at best. What to do about that? The power play numbers, eye test and metrics are in a league of their own (a bad one). How does it get fixed? But perhaps the biggest elephant in the room is what happens with John Tortorella moving forward. And could the status of assistant coach Rocky Thompson — who has led the team’s power play into an historically pitiful abyss — play a role in whether Tortorella is here next September as head coach?

That’s a hell of a lot of ifs to toss out, not going to lie. Come September, Tortorella and Thompson could both see themselves behind the bench as Tortorella enters the final year of his four-year deal and signs a short-term extension. And this becomes a moot point. Tortorella has routinely spoken about Thompson, throwing his support behind the beleaguered assistant who has a hand in running the power play.

The Philadelphia Flyers' coaching staff is currently under the microscope, with both head coach John Tortorella and assistant coach Rocky Thompson playing key roles in the team’s rebuilding process. As the Flyers continue to struggle in the Eastern Conference, the future of both Tortorella and Thompson is becoming increasingly intertwined. The decisions made regarding their respective positions could have long-term implications for the direction of the franchise.

John Tortorella, known for his fiery personality and strict discipline, was hired in 2022 to bring structure and accountability to a Flyers team that had been in a state of flux for several years. His no-nonsense approach has garnered mixed reviews from both players and fans, but there is no denying that the team’s defensive structure has improved under his watch. Despite this, the Flyers’ overall performance has remained inconsistent, with the team failing to secure a playoff spot in each of Tortorella’s first two seasons.

Enter Rocky Thompson, an assistant coach who has worked with Tortorella for years. Thompson, a former NHL player, has been a pivotal figure in the Flyers’ efforts to revamp their defensive play. He has been tasked with coaching the team’s defensemen and working on the special teams, areas in which the Flyers have shown noticeable improvement. However, Thompson’s future with the Flyers may not be as secure as it seems, especially if the team continues to underperform.

The Flyers’ front office has a history of making sweeping changes when the team fails to meet expectations, and the potential for a coaching shake-up is always looming. If Tortorella’s tenure as head coach is ultimately tied to the team’s performance, it’s possible that Thompson could be caught in the crossfire. However, if the Flyers decide to part ways with Tortorella, it could signal the end of Thompson’s time on the bench as well.

What makes this situation even more intriguing is the possibility of the Flyers opting for a different coaching direction in the near future. A coaching change could bring in new philosophies and strategies, potentially ending Thompson’s current role. Alternatively, if Tortorella stays but the team continues to struggle, Thompson could find himself promoted to head coach or given a more prominent role.

Ultimately, the future of Rocky Thompson on the Flyers’ bench is closely tied to John Tortorella’s job security. Both men are part of a larger plan to restore the Flyers to their former glory, but the pressure is mounting. As the team continues to develop its young players and search for a winning formula, the fates of Tortorella and Thompson will likely be intertwined for the foreseeable future. Only time will tell if they remain a fixture on the Flyers’ bench or if change is on the horizon.