Flyers coach John Tortorella lashes out at reporter about Gauthier trade report

FILE - Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella points during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Nov. 3, 2023, in Buffalo N.Y. Tortorella lashed out at a beat reporter during his postgame news conference Wednesday night, Jan. 10, 2024, questioning a report surrounding the trade of top prospect Cutter Gauthier on Monday. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File) (Jeffrey T. Barnes, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

PHILADELPHIA ā€“ Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella lashed out at a beat reporter during his postgame news conference Wednesday night, questioning a report surrounding the trade of top prospect Cutter Gauthier on Monday.

Gauthier told Flyers general manager Danny Briere that he didnā€™t want to play in Philadelphia or for the Flyers. Unable to sign Gauthier, Philadelphia traded the Boston College star to Anaheim on Monday for defenseman Jamie Drysdale.

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On Monday, a reporter with a podcast affiliated with the team said, citing an organizational source, that former Flyers forward Kevin Hayesā€™ ā€œfingerprints are all over this.ā€ Hayes, a former Boston College player, now plays for St. Louis.

Tortorella took issue with the report after Philadelphiaā€™s 3-2 victory over Montreal on Wednesday night.

ā€œIs the guy here that caused Kevin Hayes a problem?ā€ Tortorella asked.

ā€œYes,ā€ he answered.

ā€œAre you kidding me? You think Kevin Hayes is going to do something like that? ... ,ā€ Tortorella said. ā€œIt just pisses me off that you guys throw that around and affect someoneā€™s life. Kevin Hayes and I had a problem and we couldnā€™t come to an agreement how to play.

ā€œThatā€™s a good man. Thatā€™s a good man. And what you said is going to stay with him. Thatā€™s what you guys donā€™t understand. Youā€™re going to sit there and say you have the right sources. ..."

Tortorella then called it a ā€œsilly podcast.ā€

The coach praised Drysdale, who had an assist and played well in his first game with the Flyers.

ā€œI was impressed how he handled himself,ā€ he said.

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