Philadelphia Flyers fans woke up to shocking news on Thursday as the team announced that head coach John Tortorella had been relieved of his duties. Sitting 10 points out of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot with a 28-36-9 record (65 points), the Flyers saw this as the perfect opportunity to start fresh by kicking the former Stanley Cup-winning coach to the curb.
Associate coach Brad Shaw will handle interim coaching duties for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, according to the Flyers.
Even though Tortorella is officially out of town after nearly three full seasons, more changes are likely on the way to Philadelphia. It's only a matter of time before the offseason is here and the Fleyrs send underperforming players packing in hopes of coming back in the fall with a stronger roster.
With that in mind, here are five Flyers who are on the chopping block following Tortorella's firing.
1. Rasmus Ristolainen, D
With the Flyers being among the Eastern Conference's bottom-feeders this season, several veteran players were rumored to be on the trade block, including Rasmus Ristolainen. Even though he ultimately remained in Philadelphia, it's always possible that the team could revisit a trade this offseason.
After all, Ristolainen is bound to draw attention following a solid season. The 30-year-old blue-liner has played well at both ends of the ice, registering 19 points (4 goals, 15 assists), 97 hits, and 94 blocked shots while averaging over 20 minutes across 63 appearances. He might not be a perennial 40-point player anymore, however, he still has enough juice in the tank to be a top-pairing defender.
Ristolainen's contract situation is another aspect that could make him attractive to potential suitors. He's still under contract for two more seasons with a $5.1 million average annual value (AAV), making his deal a bargain if his play remains at its current level.
Considering how the majority of his Philly tenure has been played under Tortorella, it wouldn't be surprising if the Flyers got rid of Ristolainen to completely start fresh. Assuming the trade interest is there, general manager Daniel Briere shouldn't hesitate to make a deal.