Hey, you know how Columbus forward Ryan Johansen didn’t get a shift in the final 6:10 of last night’s 3-2 loss in Minnesota?
And you know how the Blue Jackets’ new coach, John Tortorella, told reporters that was only because Brandon Dubinsky was more effective in Johansen’s role?
Well, according to Tortorella’s old media pal in New York, there might be more to the story than that:
Told that after 1st period Tortorella told Johansen that he's not in shape. Center then got 4 shifts in 3rd. #Predictable #Torts
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) October 23, 2015
This has the potential to get interesting, because Johansen’s fitness has come under the microscope in the past. Just over a year ago, it was reported that the club was not happy with it.
You think it’s possible that Tortorella was forewarned by Columbus management that Johansen needed to get his act together?
We think that’s very possible.
Johansen, of course, missed training camp last year while negotiating his three-year, $12 million contract extension. He can become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2017.