John Tortorella Is Still Refusing To Take Questions From A Flyers Reporter Who Ticked Him Off Over A Month Ago

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John Tortorella has never really had a great relationship with the media during his time as a coach in the NHL, but he’s really taken things to the next level courtesy of his ongoing feud with Flyers reporter Anthony SanFilippo.

I find it hard to imagine there are many hockey fans out there who can’t at least appreciate the approach John Tortorella has harnessed when it comes to dealing with the press during his time in the NHL, as those interactions tend to be the polar opposite of the safe answers and cliché soundbites usually associated with the sport.

The man known as ‘Torts” initially made a name for himself during his time with the Lightning (he led Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup in 2004), but I’d argue he really came into his own when he found himself dealing with the notoriously difficult New York City media during his time with the Rangers—especially when it came to his encounters with Larry Brooks.

In 2022, the Philadelphia Flyers hired Tortorella in the hopes he’d be able to help the franchise right the ship. His inaugural campaign left a bit to be desired, but the team has turned things around this season and has a solid shot of punching its ticket to the playoffs.

The Flyers did find themselves at the center of some drama toward the middle of January when they traded Cutter Gauthier (who is currently playing at Boston College) to the Ducks after the man they’d selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft informed them he had no intention of signing with the team.

When the news broke, longtime Flyers reporter Anthony SanFilippo asserted Kevin Hayes (a B.C. grad who had some issues with Tortorella before Philadelphia traded him to St. Louis) played a role in Gauthier’s decision—an assertion the head coach firmly denied while making it very clear he was disgusted the notion was even floated.

A couple of weeks after that heated exchange, SanFilippo attempted to ask Torts a question at a press conference only to be informed the coach had no interest in responding to any inquiries coming from him.

Now, you might think the beef has died down now that more than a month has elapsed, but Tortorella made it very clear that is not the case when he shut SanFilippo down once again following Philadelphia’s win over Arizona on Monday night.

Hell hath no fury like John Tortorella scorned.