How much did Torts love giving this news to Matvei Michkov? Probably was smiling ear to ear that he gets to play his games with the rookie:

This Flyers team stinks. The only reason this move makes any sense is if they’re trying to tank for the #1 pick in next year’s draft. What’s the point of scratching this kid? Sure, he’s sucked on the 5 on 5, but does it matter? What’s the message when Torts is probably not even going to be here next year? Is this Torts’ last great scratch of his career? One he can hang on the mantle when he finally hangs up the whistle? I just don’t get it. We’re 14 games in. Maybe the optics look terrible to me because benching a guy is looked at differently in the other three major sports, but I don’t know. Just doesn’t seem like the message you want to send your 19-year-old future phenom when the coach doing it has an expiration date. Guy was just the Rookie of the Month eight days ago. He’s second on the team in points and just had an assist on the power play against Carolina while only having 13 minutes of playing time.

Now he’s going to be watching the game in the suites cause Comrade Torts wants to send a message?

Was it the Michigan, Torts? Be honest. Are you so old and crusty you saw a guy do a Michigan and it made your blood boil, but Danny wouldn’t let you bench him because it would send the wrong message? Something tells me this is it. Go look at Michkov’s TOI in the last three games since he attempted it.

  • 13:57
  • 15:15
  • 13:56

All below the 19+ minutes he was averaging before it. On Comrade Torts’ teams you to play hockey the right way. You don’t make the playoffs and you alienate plenty of guys on the team, but everyone is treated the same. The Commie Flyers are under Torts’ oppressive reign.