Tortorella, 66, had a year remaining on his contract. Following a 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, he expressed frustration over the Flyers' recent decline in the standings, sounding like he wasn't keen to continue coaching a rebuilding team.

Flyers reporter Kevin Kurz says that John Tortorella and Cam York "crossed the line" ahead of the coach's firing on Thursday.

PHILADELPHIA -- John Tortorella was fired as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, marking what general manager Daniel Briere called "rock bottom" in the team's rebuilding effort. "I really hope that this is the bottom," Briere said. "This is rock bottom for us today, and this is the turnaround."