Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Flyers are entering a pivotal year in their rebuilding process, now in its third season. Following last year's improved performance but ultimate disappointment of missing the playoffs on the final night, the team is gearing up for the 2024-25 season under head coach John Tortorella.

Tortorella, who is in his third year with the Flyers, has emphasized the need for continuous evolution and adjustment. He remains committed to maintaining the team's identity, or "standard," as he prefers to call it. Reflecting on his tenure, Tortorella noted that the first year was about evaluating players, while the second focused on building team cohesion and challenging young players and leaders.

The new season of "The Standard" docuseries follows the Flyers' preparations for the upcoming season. The first episode revisits last season's disappointing end before moving on to this year's intense training camp.

One highlight from the episode features Tortorella addressing his players at the start of camp. He stresses the importance of embracing the process and maintaining a team-first mentality. "Third year is always an important year for me," Tortorella says.

Series narrator Bill Clement adds that the Flyers aim to build on their existing foundation rather than starting anew.

Another key moment involves team captain Sean Couturier and All-Star winger Travis Konecny discussing their focus and resilience during scrimmages. "Doesn't matter what happens, just play the right way," Couturier advises.

The episode also captures moments of camaraderie among players during a golf outing at Merion Golf Club. Konecny humorously teases teammate Travis Sanheim about his golf skills, while rookie Matvei Michkov receives tips from his teammates.

Flyers Governor Dan Hilferty addresses the group during this outing, emphasizing his commitment to providing resources for continuous improvement. "This is a fun day, but I hope it sends a message to all of you that we're about doing everything we can to put the team in a position to win," Hilferty states.

General Manager Danny Briere also speaks to players during training camp, stressing that last season's improvements were not enough. Drawing from his own experience as a former player who helped lead past Flyers teams to success, Briere underscores the importance of not resting on laurels.