Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella made a bench at the newly acquired winger Patrik Laine during Monday night’s game against Carolina, and later acknowledged that while sitting a player is “the last thing I want to do ”, was something I felt was necessary.
The Blue Jackets acquired Laine two weeks ago at a Pierre-Luc Dubois center store, which Tortorella had also occupied this season.
Laine did not see the ice again on Monday after Hurricane striker Brock McGinn scored with a 6:19 foul in the second period. Laine seemed to be passively defending himself in his area on the play, but Tortorella said that was not the only motivation on the bench.
“It wasn’t because of the lost mission. There are a number of things that come into play. That will stay in the locker room,” Tortorella said after the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 win improved them to 6-5 -3 ( percentage of 0.536 points).
Laine entered the game with three goals in his first three games at Columbus, after being acquired along with Winnipeg Jets winger Jack Roslovic for Dubois on January 23rd. trade.
Along with Laine, Tortorella also replaced defender Dean Kukan after McGinn’s goal.
“That’s what I think I should do,” Tortorella said. “The last thing I want to do is make a player on the bench. But we’re disconnected in all areas. Honestly, on and off the ice. It’s easy to make a player. It’s the last thing I want to do, but if I think it is. I have to do it, I have to do it. “
For Laine, this kind of hard love is new. But Blue Jackets veterans, like winger Cam Atkinson, who has played the six seasons Tortorella has coached at Columbus, know the bench can continue until he improves effort and execution.
“Torts expects us to play as hard as we can. It doesn’t matter who you are, and I think everyone knows that. If you’re not giving 100% and you seem to be trying, it will sit you down. It’s no secret. , including myself. I’ve been this guy many times. He just wants the guys to work, “said Atkinson, who scored a penalty in Monday’s win. “It won’t always be nice. Maybe you’re playing with very different people [linemates]. But for the most part, if we play the right way and follow our concepts of playing north and anticipating hard, it doesn’t matter who you play with. “
Atkinson said he talked to Laine about the bench.
“I sit next to him in the locker room, so we chatted,” Atkinson said. “We are a very open group. You know that [what he did wrong]. He will be the first to admit it. It just has to be better, simple and straightforward, and you know it. Hope you have a great match next game. This is what we need to do. Whether you are a new man or an old man, we must hold each other accountable. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you play. We have to buy them all. “
Tortorella said that while veteran players like Atkinson can help communicate his message, he doesn’t think he needs an intermediary with a player like Laine.
“I think it’s important for teammates to help each other, but I have a feeling we have players that we don’t need anyone among us,” Tortorella said. “[Laine] and I will talk about it. I think it’s important for players and coaches to discuss situations.
“And I’ll listen to it too. It’s all a process here. I have to get this team to play as a team and care about it as a team, or we’ll keep playing the hockey we’re playing right now. It’s my job.”
As it turned out, one night when the other high-profile player included in last month’s trade was put on the bench, Roslovic scored the game’s winning goal at the end of the third period with a singular offensive effort.