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Pre-game reading: On Torts and the ‘amazing’ turnaround in Columbus

-- Up top, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman talks about the biggest challenge facing the Maple Leafs as they look to emerge out of their rebuild. The Leafs have a ton of talent up front, but what about the back end? The cost to acquire top defensemen has maybe never been higher, as evidenced by the price Edmonton paid to get Adam Larsson. And that’s what the Leafs could really use now: a top d-man.

-- Here’s Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson on the job John Tortorella has done in Columbus: “We had hit rock-bottom mentally and it was a big challenge for him to turn us around. It’s actually amazing how quickly he did it.” Tortorella received the Jack Adams Award in 2004, but not many predicted he’d be in the coach-of-the-year conversation this season. He deserves a lot of credit for helping the Jackets believe again, while adapting himself to a changing league. (Hockey News)

-- The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the 1999 All-Star Game, but they’ve never hosted the NHL Entry Draft, nor have they hosted an outdoor game. That could change soon, with NHL executive VP Steve Mayer telling the Tampa Bay Times, “There’s no question we are absolutely, strongly considering Tampa in the mix. The city can house a world-class event.” The 2017 All-Star Game is in Los Angeles, and the 2017 draft is in Chicago. But the league’s schedule is open after that. We wouldn’t hold our breath waiting for an outdoor game in Florida, but then, if Dodger Stadium can host one, it can’t be ruled out completely. (Tampa Bay Times)

-- Mattias Ohlund will be inducted into the Canucks’ Ring of Honour tonight prior to Vancouver’s game with Tampa Bay. Ohlund, 40, might be the best defenseman in Canucks history, but unfortunately injuries shortened his career. “I pushed myself and my body as far as I could. And then one day, after speaking to numerous doctors and trying everything I could, it was just impossible for me to practice and play and travel. My left knee is worse, but both are bad. ... I can have a decent, normal life, but I don’t run, don’t ski. Certainly my body’s not perfect, but I’m well enough to enjoy a comfortable life.” (Vancouver Province)

-- Whatever the NHL decides about the Olympics, TSN’s Gary Lawless wants there to be a true best-on-best tournament. If that’s the World Cup, then so be it. As long as it’s best-on-best. No Team North America or Team Europe or anything like that. “The World Cup of Hockey has a long way to go before it measures up to the Games. The kind of history and tradition that builds emotion for spectators can’t be manufactured overnight. But the World Cup has no chance in its current incarnation. It must revert to best-on-best and take advantage of the surge in talent in the U.S. as well as the current excellence in Canada.” (TSN)

-- Matt Duchene is happy to be back playing center for the Colorado Avalanche. "“I love it. It’s my natural position. I enjoy playing right wing, depending on the situation, but at center it’s consistent, I always feel in the game. I like having that responsibility defensively that you have more as a centerman than as a winger. I just like being in the middle of the ice and distributing.” The other side of the coin? Center Carl Soderberg logged just 10:08 in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to Philly, and that’s not much for a guy with a $4.75 million cap hit through 2019-20. Though to be fair, he’s been fighting a cold. (Denver Post)

Enjoy the games!