Columbus Blue Jackets: John Tortorella doesn’t hold back on Pierre-Luc Dubois trade demand
Anthony Scultore
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“I wish he was a little bit more honest as far as reasons why,” Jackets head coach John Tortorella said about Pierre-Luc Dubois wanting out. “I still haven’t really gotten to that, but I think he needs to speak on that. I won’t.”
There’s lots of questions surrounding what many are calling a “change of heart.” Elliotte Friedman noted as much recently in his last 31 Thoughts blog.
“Hopefully, there’s eventual clarity on why Dubois wanted the change of scenery. He bought a place in Columbus last season. There’s something we’re not seeing.”
Was this Tortorella’s fault?
Speculation as to why is rampant, but it’s hard to not think that John Tortorella’s tongue lashing last season didn’t come into play here. It’s something that even Torts has acknowledged.
“I think it’s so healthy because then I think you have the two individuals in the middle of that being honest with one another,” he said about the argument on the bench. “Now ‘Luc’ may not think that. Sometimes these players, especially today’s athletes, think, ‘You’re too hard on me, you’re picking on me,’ and this and that. Maybe it’s too hard for him. I don’t know. I haven’t been given a reason why he wants to leave. He certainly hasn’t said it to me that ‘I don’t want to play for you’.'”
The head coach then sent a direct message to his young star. “I think if that’s the reason he should tell me,” Torts explained. “He should basically get in front of it and get up out of here.”
I’m not sure that last comment is going to ease tensions going forward.
Note: “Rothman and Ice” on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus conducted the interview.
What will the Blue Jackets do?
The situation in Columbus between the Blue Jackets and Pierre-Luc Dubois is going to be something to keep an eye on. It isn’t expected that GM Jarmo Kekalainen will make a rash or hasty move.
However, it does appear that not only does he have a number of suitors, he has serious offers.
“The word I got was that the Blue Jackets considered some of the potential moves intriguing, but I don’t know if that means they are going to do it now,” Friedman revealed. “I just think they know now that there’s a marketplace.”
That marketplace will only get bigger come the trade deadline and the next offseason. However, it sounds like Torts would rather move on from this situation now then let it play out.
READ: SERIOUS OFFERS FOR DUBOIS