GLENDALE, Ariz. - An already crushingly disappointing season for the Columbus Blue Jackets took another ominous turn Thursday when head coach John Tortorella announced that struggling star center Ryan Johansen would be a healthy scratch for the team's game against Arizona on Thursday night.
Johansen was benched late in the Blue Jackets' previous game against the Dallas Stars and Tortorella confirmed before the team's morning skate Thursday that Johansen needs to learn to get better and that he hopes sitting out will Johansen put him on that path.
"He's too important to the team now, the organization, the area, for us to let it slide and I think we have to stop it," Tortorella said.