Columbus Blue Jackets
Scribe Suggests Tortorella Trying to Get Fired as Blue Jackets Head Coach
Aaron Portzline has contended that John Tortorella acts and has said things to suggest he’s trying to get fired as Blue Jackets head coach.
As Aaron Portzline said on TSN 690 today, “It’s been a long season in Columbus and it’s only 14 games in.” He noted, “You add all of this stuff up and it’s just daily drama.” That seems to be the feeling with the Blue Jackets organization these days as the latest story revolves around head coach John Tortorella benching newly-acquired forward Patrik Laine.
Related: Delicate Situation Forming Between Laine and Tortorella in Columbus
“There’s just been something all the time,” said Portzline, who covers the Blue Jackets for The Athletic. As telling as that take is from a guy who regularly covers the team, what was more interesting were the comments he made regarding Tortorella’s possible attitude towards all the drama and potentially staying the head coach.
Portzline noted that — and some members within the organization would agree — Tortorella’s benching of Laine, among other decisions he’s making, is a cry to relieve him of his duties as head coach.
Portzline explained:
“At times, I have this thought in the back of my mind that John Tortorella is almost wanting to be let go. That’s how I read some of these moves. He’s in the last year of his contract, I don’t think he’s coming back and I wonder if he’s sort of ready for it to end here.”
Portzline added that he doesn’t know how anyone could have left the rink on Monday after Torts benched Laine and not have asked where all this is going and if this is where the coach wants it to go? Portzline argues that what happened between Laine and the coach could have been worked out in the room and behind closed doors without the need to bench him in game four of his tenure with the team.
Why Not Just Quit Then?
Some will argue this take is out there. First, they’ll suggest that Tortorella is in the right and that all players should be accountable to playing both offense and defense. If Laine isn’t prepared to do so — even if the team knew what they were getting in the trade — he should sit. Second, many will contend that if Tortorella wants out, he could just quit.
That may be true, but there could be an argument made that getting fired is actually better for Tortorella than quitting. If the coach quits on this team, what are the chances he gets hired again? Does anyone want to hire a quitter? So too, it would shock no one if Tortorella is fired. He probably sees that as the ultimate end to his run with the team and perhaps he’s just looking to speed up the process.
Portzline believes that Tortorella will get another job when he’s ultimately done with the Blue Jackets. Columbus will need to hire a “player’s coach” but there are teams that could use more a hardline, no corner-cuttings bench boss and that will make him an obvious candidate.
This all seems nearly too crazy to believe. That said, look at what’s all happened in Columbus this year… should anything surprise us at this point?
Next: Troubling Details Behind Bell Media Layoffs and TSN Station Shut Downs
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