Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced a significant change in their leadership, stating that John Tortorella will no longer serve as head coach. Brad Shaw, who has served as the associate coach, has been appointed as the interim head coach. General Manager Daniel Briere conveyed this update to the public.

“Today I made the very difficult decision to move on from John as our head coach," Briere explained. "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. John's passion on the bench was only equaled by his charitable work in our community. As we move into the next chapter of this rebuild, I felt this was the best for our team to move forward. I'd like to thank John for his tireless work and commitment to the Flyers."

Flyers Governor Dan Hilferty and President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones also expressed their views on the decision. “On behalf of the entire Flyers organization, we would like to thank John for his dedication over the past three seasons,” they said. Both Hilferty and Jones conveyed full support for Briere's decision, stating, “John Tortorella has made a positive impact throughout the Flyers organization, and we are grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to work with him. We wish John, Christine and their family all the best moving forward."

Brad Shaw, who is stepping into the head coaching position, is no stranger to the team, having joined the Flyers in July 2022. His experience extends beyond Philadelphia, having previously worked with the Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders, and in various roles in the American Hockey League.

Shaw's coaching career follows a playing stint in the NHL, during which he played as a defenseman for teams including the Hartford Whalers, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, and St. Louis Blues.