John Tortorella doesn’t care what you think.
That much was made abundantly clear in his latest press conference, where the Flyers’ head coach defended his decision to bench Matvei Michkov in the first period after the Devils’ opening goal in what would become a frustrating 3-1 loss for Philadelphia.
Fans—already on edge as the Flyers’ losing streak extended to four games—were split.
Some saw it as another example of Tortorella’s hard-nosed, no-exceptions approach to coaching, a continuation of the accountability-first culture he and Danny Briere have tried to instill.
Others believed it was an overreaction, one that not only hurt the Flyers’ offense but could also stunt Michkov’s development.
Tortorella, unsurprisingly, wasn’t in the mood for debate.
“I’m not gonna give you information,” Tortorella said when asked about the decision postgame. “It’s not always the player on the ice that I’m trying to teach, so use that as context. There are so many things that go on with me trying to develop that player, and I’m gonna continue to do it the way I think it should be done.”
And so, we’re left with the central question: Was this the right move? Is benching a young, offensively dynamic player like Michkov after one mistake a necessary tough-love approach, or is it a counterproductive measure that does more harm than good?
The Case for Tortorella’s Decision: Accountability is Non-Negotiable
From the moment Matvei Michkov arrived in Philadelphia, the message from the Flyers’ front office was crystal clear: He’s not the savior. He’s not above the process. He will be treated the same as any other player on this team.
That’s a difficult pill to swallow for fans who have been dreaming about Michkov’s impact since the day he was drafted. The raw talent is undeniable—his creativity, hockey IQ, and ability to find space in the offensive zone have already made him one of the most electrifying rookies in the NHL.
But talent alone doesn’t grant immunity. Tortorella has long preached that his team will play the game the “right way,” which means responsibility in all three zones, attention to detail, and full commitment to structure.
If Michkov made a mistake that led to the Devils’ goal, benching him—at least in Tortorella’s eyes—wasn’t about punishment. It was about setting a standard.
Young players make mistakes. That’s inevitable—expected, even. But the way those mistakes are handled, the expectations set early in their careers, can shape how they respond moving forward. Tortorella isn’t interested in coddling Michkov or giving him preferential treatment just because he has superstar potential. In his mind, treating him differently would send the wrong message to the rest of the locker room.
And there’s something to be said for that approach. The Flyers have spent the past two seasons rebuilding their identity, trying to forge a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. A major part of that process has been instilling a culture where accountability comes first—regardless of a player’s status, age, or offensive upside.
The Case Against the Decision: Is This Helping or Hurting?
Of course, there’s another side to this. And it’s not just from angry fans on social media—it’s a legitimate question about whether this approach actually benefits Michkov’s development.
No one is arguing that accountability isn’t important. But the issue is whether benching Michkov is the right way to help him learn. Mistakes are inevitable, especially for a 20-year-old playing his first NHL season. If the goal is to make sure he doesn’t repeat them, would it be more productive to coach him through it in real-time rather than stapling him to the bench?
Hockey is a game of rhythm, confidence, and instincts. Michkov thrives on creativity—he sees plays that others don’t, he anticipates space before it opens, and he isn’t afraid to take risks. But he’s been benched before—even healthy scratched for a couple of games—and one can’t help but wonder: does that force him to play more conservatively? Does it stifle the very thing that makes him special?
And then there’s the practical issue. The Flyers have been facing some unluckiness with their offense recently. They have a structured, hard-working system that has kept them competitive, but they still struggle to score at times. Benching one of their most dynamic offensive players in a game where they only scored one goal? In some eyes, that’s a tough decision to justify purely from a strategic standpoint.
There’s also the question of consistency. Other players have made costly mistakes in games and weren’t benched immediately. So what makes this different? If accountability is the standard, it has to be applied evenly across the board.
The Bigger Picture: A Balancing Act
There’s no easy answer here, because player development isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Some players respond well to tough love. Others need a longer leash to fully unlock their potential. The challenge for Tortorella—and any coach working with young stars—is to find the right balance.
It’s clear that Michkov isn’t being singled out. Tortorella has done this before with other young players. He did it with Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and most recently, Cam York. He’s made it clear that he isn’t going to hand out ice time just because of a player’s talent—he wants to see that player earn it, game after game.
The real test will be how Michkov responds. He’s always been a competitor. He’s had to fight for everything, from making an impact in Russia at a young age to dealing with the expectations placed on him since draft day. If he channels this into motivation, if he takes this as a challenge rather than a slight, then perhaps Tortorella’s approach will prove effective in the long run.
But if this becomes a pattern—if Michkov starts playing timidly, if his confidence takes a hit, if he feels like he’s being held to a different standard than his teammates—then it’s fair to question whether this is the best developmental path.
At the end of the day, the Flyers are walking a fine line. They want to build a culture of accountability, but they also need to nurture their most skilled players. They need to teach responsibility, but they also need to let talent shine.
Tortorella has made his stance clear: He believes this is the right way to help Michkov grow. Whether he’s right or wrong is something only time will tell.
