John Tortorella is tired of legal challenges resulting in battles.

For several seasons now, many fans, analysts and even players have been saying that today’s National Hockey League is much “softer” than it used to be.

For these fans, analysts and players, a number of factors come into play.

The ones that come up most often are the fact that big checks are becoming less frequent, and also the fact that referees are calling penalties more frequently on plays that weren’t necessarily penalties otherwise.

Well, this “softer” side of today’s NHL was also denoted by a rather controversial coach, namely John Tortorella.

Tortorella explained, among other things, that he was fed up with the fact that totally legal body checks almost always result in a fight or just a breaststroke.

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According to the Flyers’ coach, the NHL is really losing a very important aspect of its game, namely big checking.

He explains that, these days, a large majority of NHL players (especially the newcomers, and therefore the youngsters) don’t know how to protect themselves against big checks.

Players aren’t ready to be checked and don’t know how to react.

Tortorella also thinks it’s a shame that on the rare occasions when big, legal checks are given, they always result in a fight as the other team tries to defend their teammate who’s been hit hard.

Here’s the rest of Tortorella’s comments.

When asked by @JHallNBCS about whether there was further clarification from the league about the Hathaway hit last night, John Tortorella used it as an opportunity to give his thoughts on the state of hitting in today’s game. Interesting stuff, whether you agree or disagree. pic.twitter.com/5fXmjKc86V

– Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) December 1, 2023

The Flyers’ coach made these comments after the Flyers’ game against the Devils on Thursday, in which Garnett Hathaway served up a heavy body check to Luke Hughes.

John Tortorella on Garnet Hathaway’s hit:

“NHL is almost becoming a “no-hit league. “#LetsGoFlyers
pic.twitter.com/kQguBhILJx

– Dylan H. Robillard (@DylanRobillard_) December 1, 2023

In short, Tortorella, who also benched Joel Farabee for 57 minutes and 18 seconds in that same game, didn’t hold back in expressing his thoughts, which I’m sure are shared by many others.

In a flurry

– The Rocket back in action today after yesterday’s 4-2 loss to the same Abbotsford Canucks.

It’s game day! It’s game day!
Submitted by @SkipTheDishes

Abbotsford Centre
10 PM / 10 PM
BPM Sports
AHLTV#GoRocket pic.twitter.com/9TjRhFrH1i

– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) December 2, 2023

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At 22, Samuel Montembeault turned down a trip with his girlfriend on the grounds that he would miss his parents too much.

It was to this young man, the ultimate family man, that the CH awarded a contract.

His rise in 3000 words (text from 2022).https://t.co/n4ZOxjHqQT

– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) December 2, 2023

– Chris Tanev could/should be of interest to the Maple Leafs.

With three regular defensemen out of the picture in Toronto, the Leafs should zero in on a Chris Tanev homecoming.@lukefoxjukebox explores that and more in the latest edition of Quick Shifts. https://t.co/yKGdddSnlA

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 2, 2023

– Good news.

The @IIHFHockey has agreed to make neck protection mandatory for the World Junior Hockey championship and the Men’s U18 championship. A final decision still has to be made on the Men’s and Women’s World Hockey Championships.

– Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 2, 2023

– Here are five interesting NCAA players who will be free agents at the end of the season.

One way to add prospects to your pipeline without having draft picks is to sign free agents out of the NCAA.

Jason Bukala looks at five such players who could draw NHL interest at the end of the season. https://t.co/2Z1s3QaRy2

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 2, 2023

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