Ryan Johansen will sit as healthy scratch vs. Coyotes
The John Tortorella-Ryan Johansen saga may be approaching a fiery climax.
The talented, embattled Blue Jackets center will be a healthy scratch Thursday versus the Arizona Coyotes, according to Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch.
The possibility of a scratch was raised earlier in the day by TSN's Darren Dreger.
"He's an important guy to our organization. This is a reset for him, in understanding what we're looking for, not just in the points but in the play," Tortorella said, per Portzline. "You can't look at it as a punishment; it's part of the process for him."
#CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he fully supports Tortorella's decision to make a healthy scratch of Ryan Johansen.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 17, 2015
Johansen was benched for the third period of Tuesday's 5-1 thumping at the hands of the Dallas Stars. Portzline - who covers the team more extensively than most - called Johansen's performance throughout the first two periods "lethargic."
He was reduced to a season-low 11:03 in the contest.
Blue Jackets players held a brief meeting following the loss, their eighth in nine December games.