John Tortorella Takes Away Philadelphia Flyers' iPads

In another move to prove he's the crustiest head coach around, Philadelphia Flyers bench boss John Tortorella has stripped iPads from the team's bench. Players will no longer be able to have a look and assess what happened on their previous shifts. He'd prefer they focus, instead, on their next shift. 

I think it’s a major problem with us, understanding the momentums of the game. You can’t understand momentums of the game if you’re looking at the iPad all the time. We took them off and aren’t even going to use them, so that they watch the game and see what’s next.

                                                                —Flyers head coach John Tortorella 

Torts pointed a finger specifically at Flyers' leading scorer Travis Konecny, who he said was "looking at that damn thing all the time.” Of course, it hadn't seemed to really be a problem for TK, who has 24 goals and 46 points in 36 games thus far. 

“Everyone was chirping me because I’m always watching them,” Konecny said. “But I don’t care.” It certainly didn't seem to bother him much not having it on Wednesday night, as he posted a hat trick in Philly's 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals. He has 20 points in his last 10 games.

The Flyers, in fact, are now on their best run of the season, winning seven of their last 10 games, though still sit at 17-18-7. Without much shot at the postseason, however, it's quite likely that Flyers players will be able to use their iPads to watch the playoffs... from home. 

It was just last week that Torts also poo-pooed the NHL All-Star festivities, saying “I don’t even worry about that sh*t.”

Photo: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports