Tippett: Flyers players were 'part of the problem' before Tortorella's firing

Forward Owen Tippett admits the Philadelphia Flyers' players contributed to the dismissal of John Tortorella.

"You never want to see a coaching change," Tippett told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "I think it takes a lot for it to get to that point. And we realized that in this room, we were part of the problem. I think a change and a shift with us is just an effort to play for one another, and make a point that we still believe in each other, and we're going to go to battle with each other."

The Flyers had one win in their last 12 games when they replaced Tortorella with interim coach Brad Shaw. They're 3-0-0 since the coaching change.

Following Tortorella's final game behind the bench - a 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs - he said he isn't interested in coaching a rebuild.

A reported incident with defenseman Cam York in which both parties "crossed the line" also played a factor in his dismissal.

Tortorella was in his third season as Flyers coach. The club never made the playoffs under his guidance, but Shaw stated the two-time Jack Adams Award winner helped Philadelphia establish a culture.

"One of the best things Torts did here was that room," Shaw said. "There's been people that left in the last month or so that create voids a little bit, but it's still a great room."

The Flyers sit 14th in the Eastern Conference despite their recent turnaround. They have six games remaining on the season.