Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella replaced the newly acquired winger Patrik Laine during Monday night’s game against Carolina, later recognizing that although sitting a player is “the last thing I want to do”, it was something he felt was necessary.
The Blue Jackets acquired Laine two weeks ago in an exchange for the Pierre-Luc Dubois center, whom Tortorella had also supported this season.
Laine did not see the ice again on Monday after Hurricanes striker Brock McGinn scored with 6:19 remaining in the second period. Laine seemed to passively defend in his play zone, but Tortorella said that was not the only motivation for the bank.
“It was not because of the lost mission. There are a number of things that come into play with this. It will stay in the locker room,” said Tortorella after the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 win lifted them to 6-5-3 ( 0.536 percentage points).
Laine entered the game with three goals in his first three games in Columbus, after being acquired together with Winnipeg Jets winger Jack Roslovic to Dubois on 23 January. Tortorella had placed Dubois twice for lack of effort in the games before the trade.
Along with Laine, Tortorella also replaced defender Dean Kukan after McGinn’s goal.
“That’s what I feel I need to do,” said Tortorella. “The last thing I want to do is put a player on the bench. But we are just disarticulated in all areas. Honestly, on and off the ice. It’s an easy thing to put a player on the bench. It’s the last thing I want to do, but if I think I need to do this, then I need to do it. “
For Laine, this kind of difficult love is new. But veterans of Blue Jackets, like winger Cam Atkinson – who has played all six seasons that Tortorella trained in Columbus – know that the banks can continue until the effort and execution improves.
“Torts expects us to play as much as we can. It doesn’t matter who you are, and I think everyone knows that. If you’re not giving 100 percent and looking like you’re trying, he’ll sit on you. It’s no secret. it’s for everyone, including me. I’ve been this guy several times. He just wants the guys who are going to work, ”said Atkinson, who scored on a penalty in Monday’s victory. “It won’t always be beautiful. You may be playing with several [linemates]. But most of the time, if we play it right and stick to our concepts of playing north and predicting a lot, it doesn’t matter who you play with. “
Atkinson said he spoke to Laine about the bank.
“I sit next to him in the locker room, so we talk,” said Atkinson. “We are a very open group. He knows [what he did wrong]. He will be the first to admit. He just has to be better, pure and simple, and he knows it. Expect him to have a great game in the next game. That is what we have to do. Whether you’re a new guy or an old guy, we have to hold each other accountable. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you play. We all have to agree. “
Tortorella said that while veteran players like Atkinson can help communicate his message, he doesn’t believe he needs an intermediary with a player like Laine.
“I think it’s important for teammates to help each other, but I feel that with the players we don’t need anyone between us,” said Tortorella. “[Laine] and I will discuss it. I think it’s important for players and coaches to discuss situations.
“And I will listen to you too. It is all a process here. I have to make this team play as a team and care as a team, or we will continue to play the hockey that we are playing now. It is my job.”
By chance, on a night when the other major player included in last month’s exchange was eliminated, Roslovic scored the winning goal at the end of the third period with a singular offensive effort.