Columbus Blue Jackets Coach John Tortorella put the newly acquired Star Winger on the bench Patrik laine During Monday night’s game against Carolina, he admitted that while a player’s sitting is “the last thing I want to do,” it was something he felt was necessary.
The Blue Jackets bought Laine two weeks ago in a commercial center Pierre-Luc Duboisthat Tortorella had put on the bench again this season.
Laine didn’t see the ice cream after that Monday night Hurricanes Forward Brock McGinn scored 6:19 in the second period. Laine appeared to be defending passively in his own zone but Tortorella said that wasn’t the only motivation for the bank.
“It wasn’t because of the missed task. There are a number of things that come into play with it. They stay in the dressing room,” Tortorella said after the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 win improved her to 6-5 – 3 (.536 points percent) in the season.
Laine started by scoring three goals in his first three games at Columbus on Monday after being won alongside the winger Jack Roslovic of the Winnipeg Jets for Dubois on January 23rd. Tortorella had bet Dubois twice in the pre-trade games for lack of exertion.
In addition to Laine, Tortorella also sat a defender on the bench Dean Kukan | after McGinn’s gate on Monday night.
“It’s what I have to do,” said Tortorella. “The last thing I want to do is bench a player. But we’re just incoherent in all areas. In all honesty, on and off the ice. It’s easy to bench a player. It is the last thing I want to do. but if I think I have to do it, then I have to do it. “
This kind of hard love is new to Laine. But seasoned Blue Jackets like wingers Cam Atkinson – who has played all six seasons that Tortorella trained in Columbus – knows that benching can continue until effort and execution improve.
“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 don’t give 100% and look like you’re trying, he’ll bet you. It’s no secret. It goes for everyone, including me. I’ve been that guy many times. He just wants the guys who are going to work, “said Atkinson, who scored a penalty in Monday’s win. “It won’t always be nice. You may play with a lot of others [linemates]. But, for the most part, it doesn’t matter who you play with if we play right and stick to our concepts of playing north and testing hard. “
Atkinson said he had already spoken to Laine about the bank.
“I’m sitting next to him in the locker room so we talked,” said Atkinson. “We’re a pretty open group. He knows it [what he did wrong]. He’ll be the first to admit it. He just has to be better, plain and simple, and he knows it. Expect him to have a big game in the next game. We have to do that. 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 all have to buy ourselves in. “
Tortorella said that while seasoned players like Atkinson can help get his message across, he doesn’t think he needs a go-between with a player like Laine.
“I think it’s important that team-mates help others, but I have a feeling we don’t need anyone between us,” said Tortorella. “”[Laine] and I’ll discuss it. I think it’s important for the players and coaches to discuss situations.
“And I’ll listen to him too. It’s all process here. I have to get this team to play as a team and take care of me as a team, or we’ll keep playing the hockey we play.” I’m playing. It’s my job “
On a night when the other high profile player represented in last month’s trading was benched, Roslovic scored the winning goal late in the third period with a unique offensive performance.
