On Emil Andrae: IT GOT WORSE!

Yesterday, I attempted to give the Flyers the benefit of the doubt. I wrote that the decision to send Emil Andrae back to the minors was based on a need for flexibility during the NHL roster freeze.

Flyers loan Emil Andrae back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms >>

This period is better known as Danny Week, where all NHL GMs refuse to close over the Christmas holiday and “pull a Danny.”

Given that acquisitions and roster moves are illegal during this time period, the only way to call up a thirteenth forward in the event that one is needed would be to create roster space by sending down a waiver-exempt player.

It made sense. And it was reported by beat writers who said they heard it from a “source.”

“Emil Andrae being loaned…more about flexibility for Flyers’ roster…”

Emil Andrae being loaned to Phantoms was more about flexibility for Flyers' roster, according to a source. Flyers have only 12 forwards, so if they need one to come up, they'll have spot available during roster freeze.

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 20, 2024

I’m not criticizing Jordan here, but I’m pointing out that his source clearly lied to him. Either that, or John Tortorella is lying to all of us.

This was Tort’s quote on the matter today, as transcribed by PHLY Reporter Charlie O’Connor:

Tortorella on the decision to demote Emil Andrae: "It's a no-brainer. It's gotten too rich for him. Easy part of the process. He gets a little bit up here, plays really well, starts falling off. We are not going to keep putting a kid in a spot where we're hurting him."

— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) December 21, 2024

Either this source should never be used again, because they’re clearly unreliable, or the head coach is publicly lying to fans for no apparent reason other than to harm the reputation of one of his players.

I’m pretty sure it’s the former. Now, that doesn’t absolve Torts here, either. He’s not some heroic actor in this. For one thing, he’s absolutely delusional.

The Flyers are the best 5v5 team in the NHL with Emil Andrae.

Without him, they are one of the worst.

Sent down to Lehigh Valley today #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/lpwYW0zBnm

— Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) December 20, 2024

I’ll let Justin’s research speak for itself. It was great work. WHY can Justin go online and compile more relevant information than John Tortorella, the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers?

These people employ an entire team who make a comfortable salary to find information like what Justin found, and to go even deeper than that. And they couldn’t do it? Or perhaps the head coach just ignored them?

That seems to be the case. Is this tolerable behavior? To me, not really.

On one side: data.

On the other side: articles of faith in a coach whose last 2 stops are such bastions of success as Philadelphia and Columbus.

I give these 2 things equal weight, for sure. https://t.co/JeG4IBa5fl

— Derek #ExtremePositions (@SuitableAlias) December 21, 2024

Is it tolerable behavior to Daniel Briere? All evidence suggests: yes, this is perfectly acceptable to him.

Then again, Danny can’t close. So he probably couldn’t complete a pink slip in the same way that he can’t complete a trade of consequence without taking on oodles of money in the process. Hey, Cal Petersen and Ryan Johansen, how you doing?

Given that he can’t close a door, much less issue a pink slip, it’s pretty obvious that he runs the most permissive room in the NHL. How’s that for culture? The inmate is running the asylum over there!

I’ll end this quick follow-up piece with this obvious conclusion:

Torts thinks he's God, and Danny can't close.

THIS WILL END WELL!

— Derek #ExtremePositions (@SuitableAlias) December 21, 2024

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