Flyers Interview John Tortorella for Head-Coaching Opening

The Philadelphia Flyers interviewed former Columbus Blue Jackets and head coach John Tortorella for the team’s vacant head coaching position, according to ESPN's Kevin Weeks.

Tortorella, 63, has no ties to the Philadelphia franchise and in addition to Carolina, he has coached the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks, making 12 postseason appearances and winning a Stanley Cup title in 2004 with Tampa.

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Overall in 1,383 games, Tortorella is 673-542-132 with 37 ties and a two-time winner of the Jack Adams Award (2004, 2017) as the leagues top coach.

The Flyers parted with head coach Alain Vigneault in December after he went 8-11-4 start to the season. The team replaced him with Mike Yao on an interim basis and the team went 17-36-7 with Yao to finish 21-35-11 on the season, missing the postseason for the first time in consecutive seasons since a 1989-1994 stretch.

The team is reportedly interested in a high-profile veteran head coach to lead the team with a proven track record of success per reports.

Tortorella is currently working as an analyst for ESPN and said before tonight's playoff game between Carolina and New York, "very fortunate to have the opportunity, but I will leave it at that."

Another big coaching name is set to interview with Philadelphia per Sportsnet in Canada is former Nashville, Washington and New York Islanders head coach, Barry Trotz. Trotz won a Stanley Cup in Washington with the Capitals in 2018, giving the franchise their first Stanley Cup championship.