Laine already benched?

[TheNumber4]

Torts is an ego maniac that likes to exert control over his star players. The benching doesn’t mean much considering Torts benches so he can sniff his own balls.

 

[Viqsi]

I think Texier was playing the 4th line too, what's going on??

Hot start has cooled down a bit. It happens. You either get used to it and hope the players learn and grow and become awesome (frequently they do), or you turn into a raging anti-Tortorella hate monster.

 

[93LEAFS]

Is this the same Dubois that beat Toronto by himself in the play ins and just had 20 gm's trying to trade for him.

Overstatement of the year. Seth Jones and Korpisalo were both more important, not that Dubois didn't make an impact.

 

[MBH]

yes I am sure that is his plan. Get a massive demotion from coaching to broadcasting, and get fired on purpose to do so. Brilliant

Maybe it's not about broadcasting. Maybe he wants to get fired and coach some other team.

I'm not sure what went down with PL Dubois, the former Blue Jackets' young star, but it sure seemed like his relationship with Torts wasn't great when he demanded his trade.

And then your GM goes out and trades the young star for another young star, and a couple games in, your coach benches him.

If that doesn't get the attention of your boss, I don't know what will.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Laine was a turnover machine all game trying to carry the puck in and lose it at the blue line.

That’s a Laine trademark for sure. It rarely works him going 1 on 2 or 3 but he still tries all the time. But when it does work, he will often score. Weird player in some ways.

 

[jetsforever]

Laine's one of my favourite players but this is pretty funny. Hope it motivates him to pull up his socks.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Okay, well that’s just weird.

 

[Viqsi]

Maybe it's not about broadcasting. Maybe he wants to get fired and coach some other team.

I'm not sure what went down with PL Dubois, the former Blue Jackets' young star, but it sure seemed like his relationship with Torts wasn't great when he demanded his trade.

And then your GM goes out and trades the young star for another young star, and a couple games in, your coach benches him.

If that doesn't get the attention of your boss, I don't know what will.

Come on. His contract doesn't extend past this year. If he wanted to go elsewhere, he could just refuse to sign an extension. And he'd have a much better chance of getting that job elsewhere if he does that, as opposed to drawing the negative attention of not just his boss, but the entire hockey media world by making such dramatic decisions.

I think it's far less outlandish to just presume that he's attempting to do his job the best he can with the time and the tools he has.

 

[Mikeshane]

I can't remember seeing a guy in the defensive zone looking like he's getting open for a chance on goal like that before. Either that or he was covering the Invisible Man.

 

[majormajor]

I think Texier was playing the 4th line too, what's going on??

His energy sagged a bit, had a few weaker games. Tex looked better to me in this game. Torts isn't done with him. It took years with Bjorkstrand.

Maybe it's not about broadcasting. Maybe he wants to get fired and coach some other team.

I'm not sure what went down with PL Dubois, the former Blue Jackets' young star, but it sure seemed like his relationship with Torts wasn't great when he demanded his trade.

And then your GM goes out and trades the young star for another young star, and a couple games in, your coach benches him.

If that doesn't get the attention of your boss, I don't know what will.

I'll give you a simpler theory: he's trying to get more out of Laine. I don't know why you didn't think of that.

Everyone who knows Laine and knows Torts knew that Laine wasn't going to be up to code upon arrival. There was going to be a benching or two. The only question is how Laine reacts.

 

[Red Piller]

Maybe it's not about broadcasting. Maybe he wants to get fired and coach some other team.

I'm not sure what went down with PL Dubois, the former Blue Jackets' young star, but it sure seemed like his relationship with Torts wasn't great when he demanded his trade.

And then your GM goes out and trades the young star for another young star, and a couple games in, your coach benches him.

If that doesn't get the attention of your boss, I don't know what will.

I understand that but Laine isn’t innocent here. Everyone wants to blame Torts but Laine is also a problem and has been his entire career. Blaming John Tortorella is always the easy way out.

 

[thebus88]

What's he doing to cover the right point? That guy is hovering over the slot, the puck is cross ice and Laine is standing on the dot watching the puck. CBJ is basically a man down with coverage like that.

This is my thing, it doesn’t matter who he’s supposed to be covering or that it was a broken play, he is doing nothing by standing in the faceoff circle essentially motionless.

Most of the time, you don’t get caught in “no mans land” without already putting yourself there. These are perfect examples.

Anybody can go back and look at the goal that DAL scored on Laine’s 1st shift (I believe) with the CBJ. Shot from the point from the d man just after Laine lazily reached for a slow pass that rolled passed him out of the corner.

 

[Loff]

Johnny boy is the real tumor on that team. He's gonna get canned soon.

 

[ViD]

Johnny boy is the real tumor on that team. He's gonna get canned soon.

You have no idea what you’re talking about

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

This is what got him benched for anyone wondering

Is that his guy? He’s puck watching, but shouldn’t he have D on the point?

 

[MBH]

I understand that but Laine isn’t innocent here. Everyone wants to blame Torts but Laine is also a problem and has been his entire career. Blaming John Tortorella is always the easy way out.

It's not about innocence and guilt.
Why do you bench a guy with 3 goals in two games for the whole f***ing third period?
Just to show everyone you're the boss?
f*** that shit.
That might work if you're winning cups and taking teams to the finals.

We had a guy like Torts in Babcock. Needed to show everyone he was alpha.
By the end, he was practically spitting in Ken Holland's face, burying Ken Holland acquisitions in the press box.
Stuck around just long enough for desperate Holland to make Toronto up their contract offers.

He wanted out. He knew the lay of the land in Detroit and that Detroit's time was done.

 

[57special]

Maybe Torts should bench himself.

 

[BlueMed]

He dogged it like you see once a game from many players.

Problem is, Torts doesn't tolerate it.
Players will continue to hate playing in Columbus as long as he is coach.

Gotta love it though. Players like Pastrnak, Panarin, and Laine who choose not to play defense are not helping their teams.

 

[Plural]

Laine is a bi-polar player. He can literally win you games with his scoring prowess and he often does. He can also literally games for you with his turnovers and bad positioning.

 

[oobga]

Interesting approach with your new elite player that is on the last year of his deal. Laine doesn't strike me as the type that is going to be kissing Torts' butt begging to be in his good graces.

 

[NYR3]

Some of the takes here are bad, yikes. Some people can't handle criticism

 

[HabsInsider]

I'm not making judgement calls about who is right or wrong, but let's examine Laine's NHL career thus far:

As the 2nd overall pick of Winnipeg, Patrik was rumored to have been bullied by several of his teammates. He struggled to fit in since day 1. The situation became untenable and a trade had to be made.

He finally gets a fresh start but unfortunately Torts is the coach of his new team. I like Torts but he's not for everybody. He's the type of coach you absolutely don't want if you're a finesse European player (what other people say, not me).

Only a few games in, Torts benches him for the entire third period. Many players can take this in stride but will Laine? He plays a certain style that Torts will be trying to change. I can see Laine wanting out of that situation if he doesn't already.

That would mean a third NHL team for the coveted 2nd overall pick..

And the worst part of all this for Laine may be that he's an RFA after this season.

Do you think Laine will work out in Columbus? Will he be traded? I think it's only a matter of time before he is.

 

[NYR3]

People are taking a benching way too serious. Holy shit

 

[unicornpig]

i'd love to see torts coach ovechkin

 

[ViD]

i'd love to see torts coach ovechkin

Are we talking Ovechkin of today? There would be no problem at all