Today John Tortorella and the Philadelphia Flyers made a controversial decision to scratch a player with his parents and family in attendance. As a result Tortorella when he spoke to the media needed to answer for deciding to scratch the player.

Tortorella Scratches Rookie With His Family In Attendance

The Philadelphia Flyers are in Minnesota tonight to take on the Minnesota Wild. Tonight was going to be the first opportunity for rookie forward Bobby Brink to play in front of his family in his home state.

Sadly Flyers head coach John Tortorella did not get the message and has scratched Brink for tonight.

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Anytime a player is scratched in their return home it becomes a controversial decision. This time was no different which meant head coach John Tortorella needed to answer for it.

Tortorella Reveals The Reason He Is Scratching Rookie

In his press conference after practice this morning Tortorella addressed the scratching of Brink. He said that while Brink is a talented player who will be around for a long time he has been inconsistent as of late.'

Other players are playing better. This is all part of the process for Bobby. He's going to be a really good player, but there are a lot of things he needs to work on, and I think he's been a little inconsistent. Bobby Brink doesn't have a cemented spot in the National Hockey League. He has a ways to go as far as to find that. But that's to be expected. I think he's going to be a really good player for us.

Tortorella was then of course asked a follow-up about why this game was the time to scratch Brink and if there was any thought put into his family being there.

"Absolutely not, and don't start with all the hugging, and that stuff, because I heard it last year. It's the National Hockey League. I can't get itineraries from players when their parents are coming in to decide what a lineup is. I can't. I knew that would come up. You're in the wrong game. If we're going to play inter-mural and all that stuff, whatever you want to call the fun stuff, this is the National Hockey League. These are part of the things that kids have to go
through."

"Having said that, yeah, I'd love for his parents to see him play. It just didn't work out that way."

It is fascinating that one day Tortorella can talk with the media and have such patience with a young player like Jamie Drysdale coming in. Then the next Bobby Brink being scratched in front of his family is no big deal. Either way Tortorella has his team playing great so his decisions clearly must be working out well.

As Read On - Blade Of Steel - John Tortorella Scratches Rookie in Front of his Parents, Explains that he Doesn't Care and Why

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John Tortorella Reveals the Real Reason He is Scratching Rookie Player With His Parents in Attendance