on Sept. 7. "I've spent some time in the office talking to players, talking to personnel, talking to (general manager) Chuck (Fletcher), all the front office. I have major concerns about what goes on in there.
"Before we even step on the ice, situations and standards and accountability in the room is forefront. You can't get squat done on the ice until you get your room straightened out, and I think we have a little bit of work to do there."
Tortorella was hired as coach June 17 to replace Mike Yeo after the Flyers (25-46-11) finished last in the eight-team Metropolitan Division and 15th of 16 in the Eastern Conference last season. He said conversations with players throughout the offseason have him feeling a bit uneasy about how certain situations were handled in the locker room.
Philadelphia will begin training camp Sept. 21. It will play its first game of the 2022-23 season Oct. 13 against the New Jersey Devils.
"Obviously, something needs to be changed," Flyers center Kevin Hayes said Monday. "Last year was embarrassing for our group. We weren't very good at all and if we're going to change the culture, I think 'Torts' is the correct guy to have it. He's kind of a no-[nonsense] guy and holds everyone accountable, whether you've played 1,000 games or you're a rookie. I think in order to have a successful team, you need to have accountability, whether it's players holding each other accountable, management holding players accountable, or in this case, I think Torts is going to hold all players that make this team accountable. And that's how you win. You want every single one of your guys, whether it's your best player or fourth-line guy that knows his role, to be held accountable.
"I flew in and met with Torts right after he got hired and we had a good conversation. He said he's going to be really hard on me this year, and it's exciting. I think the whole team should be excited about it. I know fans are kind of down on our team right now, but it's easy to say it's a new year, a new team and I think we're off to the right start with our whole team being here pretty early."
The Flyers' key offseason move was acquiring defenseman Tony DeAngelo in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 8. They also signed forward Nicolas Deslauriers to a four-year contract ($1.75 million average annual value) and defenseman Justin Braun to a one-year, $1.75 million contract July 13.
DeAngelo was acquired to help a power play that was last in the NHL last season (12.6 percent); his 20 power-play points led Hurricanes defensemen.
But Tortorella said he is looking forward to what DeAngelo can potentially bring to the locker room in Philadelphia as well.
"I think Tony is going to give us some personality," he said. "I think he's going to give us competitiveness, he's going to give us some will. I think he's maturing. I think he knows that he can't run off with his mouth at certain times. I'm certainly not going to muzzle him; I think that's part of his personality. But I think he's maturing in that part of it. Everybody I've talked to about him that's played with him love him, coaches, because he goes to battle for you. He's that type of guy.
"He's a good player. I'm really anxious to coach him and see what he's all about."
