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Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella benched newly acquired winger Patrik Laine in Monday night’s game against Carolina, later acknowledging that while a seated player was “the last thing I want to do “was something he felt was necessary.
The Blue Jackets acquired Laine two weeks ago in a trade for center Pierre-Luc Dubois, which Tortorella had also benched this season.
Laine did not see the ice again on Monday after Hurricanes forward Brock McGinn scored with 6:19 left in the second period. Laine appeared to be passively defending in his zone on the play, but Tortorella said that wasn’t the only motivation for the bench.
“It wasn’t because of the missed mission. There are a number of things that come into play with that. It will stay in the locker room,” Tortorella said after the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 victory left them behind. improved to 6-5. -3 (.536 percentage points).
Laine entered the game with three goals in his first three games for Columbus, after being acquired with winger Jack Roslovic of the Winnipeg Jets for Dubois on Jan. 23. Tortorella had benched Dubois twice for lack of effort in the games leading up to the trade.
Along with Laine, Tortorella also benched defender Dean Kukan after McGinn’s goal.
“This is what I feel I have to do,” Tortorella said. “The last thing I want to do is bench a player. But we’re just disjointed in every way. Honestly, on and off the ice. It’s an easy thing to bench a player. C is the last thing I want to do, but if I think I need 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 played all six seasons Tortorella coached at Columbus – know the benches could continue until effort and execution improve.
“Torts expects us to play as hard as possible. 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’s going to sit you down. It’s no secret. This goes for everyone including me. I’ve been this guy many times. He just wants guys who go to work, “said Atkinson, who has scored from a penalty kick in Monday’s win. “It won’t always be pretty. You may be playing with a lot of [linemates]. But for the most part, if we play the right way and stick to our concepts of playing north and checking ahead, it doesn’t matter who you play with. “
Atkinson said he spoke to Laine from the bench.
“I sit next to him in the locker room so we chatted,” Atkinson said. “We are a fairly open group. He knows [what he did wrong]. He will be the first to admit it. It just has to be better, clear, and simple, and he knows it. Expect him to have a big game in the next game. This is what we have to do. Whether you are new or old, we need to hold each other accountable. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you play. We all need to join. “
Tortorella said that while veteran 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 the teammates help each other out, but I have a feeling that with the players we don’t need anybody between us,” said Tortorella. “[Laine] and I will discuss it. I think it is important for players and coaches to discuss situations.
“And I’ll listen to it too. Everything is process here. I have to get this team to play as a team and care as a team, or we’re going to keep playing the hockey that we’re playing right now. It’s my job. “
In fact, one night when the other top player included in last month’s trade was benched, Roslovic scored the game-winning goal at the end of the third period with a singular offensive effort.
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