Anonymous NHL player hates Philadelphia, loves Tortorella

1 month ago  /  Broad Street Hockey  /  Read Time: 2 minutes 49 seconds

The City of Brotherly Love is not getting even an ounce of love from one anonymous NHL player, according to a recent poll.



In the latest NHL player poll from The Athletic, where they have interviewed over 100 current players on certain preferences on and off the ice, one player has suddenly spurned a whole conversation around his hatred for the city of Philadelphia and potentially playing for the Flyers.




One player just really, really, really disliked Philadelphia, to the point where you have to wonder if Gritty picked on him as a child.



“Honestly, I wouldn’t even mind Winnipeg,” he said. “It’s not that nice, but I just hate Philly. I just hate Philly. I can’t stand it. I can’t stand the city, everything. It’s the rink. It’s just one city that I absolutely despise. I can’t stand it. I’d be sick if I got traded there. If I had a one-team no-trade list, they’d be on it in a second.”
(The Athletic)



To prefer the horrible weather of Winnipeg, Manitoba — where it is either freezing your nose off in a split second or feeling every one of your pores ooze with sweat due to the gross humidity — and the lack of things to do there, to this city feels abnormal. To even go further and make sure it is understood that it is the city, the Wells Fargo Center, and expressing his despise for even thinking about playing for the Flyers; is generally hilarious.



But a curveball has been thrown. That same exact player, according to the poll, would love the opportunity to play under Flyers head coach John Tortorella, and it was an up-and-down sentiment among the players polled.




The Philadelphia Flyers’ John Tortorella tops the next list, but he garnered a few votes here, too — including one surprising one: the same player who really, really, really dislikes Philadelphia.



“He’s in Philly, but I would just like to experience how it feels to be under Torts,” he said. “There’d probably be some funny stuff going on on the bench. I’d just love to hear it sometime.”



The curiosity factor was high with Tortorella.



“I’d like to experience Torts,” another player said. “You hear stories. I’d like to see it for myself.”



“I’ve heard he’s got his team’s back,” another said. “He’ll take care of his players.”
(The Athletic)



Tortorella being a controversial figure was predictable. Some players love his brutal honesty, while others would much rather have a softer approach from their bench boss. It’s either be glad your coach supports you but could also direct his negative attention towards you, or just coast and never really know what your boss is thinking.



Now there are theories going around about which player this is. Could it be as simple as Cutter Gauthier, the child who infamously spurned the Flyers and was sent to the Anaheim Ducks after rejecting the notion to play for the Flyers? It would make sense, and as an American one could assume he could have some adoration for Tortorella. But, one of Gauthier’s pals, Rutger McGroarty, also spurned the Winnipeg Jets for the same reason he did and unless his opinion of Manitoba differs greatly from his buddy, we might have to think of a new candidate.



Is it just a player that is so used to living in the suburbs? Growing up somewhere in Canada, an hour outside of a major city, deep in the land of strip malls? And now has spent his adult life only knowing a similar situation, playing in the quiet suburbs of Dallas or Detroit? Or maybe only knowing the scenic atmosphere around Vancouver, Minnesota, or Edmonton? Perhaps we are just dealing with an overall hater for any semblance of culture — wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to make for a professional hockey player.



Either way, unless some staffer from The Athletic slips up and reveals this player’s identity, we will have to live with the fact that there is a notable player somewhere out there that absolutely hates everything to do with the city our favorite sports team resides.







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