John Tortorella, coach of Columbus Blue Jackets, tipped the newly signed wing Patrik Laine during Monday night’s game against Carolina and then admitted that although he is a player ‘the last thing I want to do’, it’s something he feels is necessary is.
The Blue Jackets acquired Laine two weeks ago in a brand name for center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who also offered Tortorella this season.
Laine did not see the ice again on Monday, after Hurricanes forward Brock McGinn was 6:19 left in the second period. Laine apparently defended passively in his zone on the game, but Tortorella said that was not the only motivation for the benching.
“It was not because of the missed assignment. There are a number of things that go along with it. It will stay in the locker room,” Tortorella said after the Blue Jackets 3-2 victory improved them to 6-5 . -3 (.536 points percentage).
Laine entered the game with three goals in his first three games in Columbus, after being acquired on January 23 along with wing Jack Roslovic of the Winnipeg Jets for Dubois. Tortorella doubled Dubois twice due to a lack of effort in the matches that led to the trade.
Along with Laine, Tortorella also turned on defender Dean Kukan after McGinn’s goal.
“This is what I feel I should do,” Tortorella said. “The last thing I want to do is beat a player. But we’re just connected in all areas. Honestly, on and off the ice. It’s an easy thing to beat a player. It’s the last thing I want to do, but if I think I have to do it, then I have to do it. ‘
For Laine, this kind of hard love is new. But veteran Blue Jackets like winger Cam Atkinson – who has played all six seasons coaching Tortorella in Columbus – know the benchings can continue until effort and execution improve.
“Torts expects us to play as hard as possible. It does not matter who you are, and I think everyone knows that. If you do not give 100 percent and look like you are trying, he will sit you down. It is no “Secret. It applies to everyone, including me. I’ve been that guy a few times already. He just wants the guys who are going to work,” said Atkinson, who passed Monday with a penalty kick. “It’s not always going to be nice. You may be playing with a lot of different things. [linemates]. But mostly, if we play the right way and stick to our concepts of playing north and controlling hard, it doesn’t matter who you play with. ‘
Atkinson said he spoke to Laine about the benching.
“I’m sitting next to him in the locker room, so we talked,” Atkinson said. “We are a fairly open group. He knows [what he did wrong]. He will be the first to admit it. He just needs to be better, simpler and simpler, and he knows it. Expect him to have a big game next game. This is what we need. Whether you’re a new guy or an old guy, we need to hold each other accountable. It does not matter who you are or where you play. We all have to shop. ‘
Tortorella said veteran players like Atkinson could help convey his message, but he does not believe he needs an intermediary with a player like Laine.
“I think it’s important for teammates to help each other, but my feeling is with players that we do not need anyone between us,” Tortorella said. “[Laine] and I will discuss it. I think it is important that the players and coaches discuss situations.
“And I’ll listen to him too. It’s all here. I have to play this team as a team and as a team, or we’re going to play the hockey we are playing now. It’s my job.”
While that was happening, Roslovic recorded the outcome of the match late in the third period late in the third period with an exceptional attacking effort on the night of the other high-stakes player included in the previous month’s trade.