32 Thoughts: The Podcast This Town Is a Make You Town
6 snips
Mar 30, 2026 Talks about Vegas hiring John Tortorella and how a late coaching change could shake up a Cup contender. A chaotic Eastern Conference playoff race and tight Western scramble get close attention. Conversations touch on Flyers roster moves, goalie usage controversies, young Blues leadership, and whether automated balls-and-strikes in baseball could spill into hockey.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Vegas Replaced Cassidy With Tortorella
- Vegas fired Bruce Cassidy late in the season despite holding a playoff spot because players had tuned out and goaltending collapsed.
- Elliotte Friedman cites terrible save percentage, internal battles with players and assistants, and timing after a 1‑in‑7 skid as reasons.
Tortorella Brought To Reset Player Buy‑In
- Hiring John Tortorella is a deliberate voice change to re‑engage players who tuned out Cassidy.
- Friedman says Tortorella leans on top players and can reset buy‑in quickly, despite mixed historical outcomes.
Eastern Playoff Race Still Up For Grabs
- Eastern Conference race remains chaotic with Philly, Ottawa, Detroit and Columbus all within reach late in March.
- Kyle Bukauskas highlights key wins (Philly over Dallas) and player signings like Porter Martone shifting momentum.