So much for new Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella's tough love approach to Jackets star forward Ryan Johansen. It was reported late last week that upon his arrival behind the bench for Columbus, Tortorella had questioned Johansen's conditioning before essentially benching him for the final stretch of a game against the Minnesota Wild. This isn't the first time that Johansen's physical preparations for the season have been questioned either. But it seems Johansen's late-game absence and the frustrations of the franchise may have been ultimately misguided and spurred by something other than the notoriously grating Tortorella attempting to send a message to a top Blue Jackets player.
Shawn Mitchell and Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Post-Dispatch reported Monday that an illness that actually caused Johansen to be hospitalized on at least on occasion this offseason, is the real reason behind his supposed fitness issues. Per the report, as a result of the illness Johansen had an accelerated heart rate. This Saturday, Johansen left the team in Denver and flew to Columbus with a member of the team's medical staff.
Whatever is currently ailing him though, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen told Mitchel and Portzline that it's not related to Johansen's heart.
Johansen, 23, had appeared in 202 straight games for the Blue Jackets before missing Saturday's contest. He managed a full slate of 82 games both of the past two seasons. The young veteran scored 33 goals and added 30 assists in 2013-14 and potted 26 and totaled 71 points in 2014-15.
Portzline published an accompanying insider report later on Monday indicating that Johansen is set to miss his second-straight game. His agent, Kurt Overhardt, echoed Kekalainen, indicating that whatever is currently ailing Johansen, it's not related to heart issues.
"It's nothing with his heart; he's just not feeling well and we're trying to figure out why," Overhardt told Portzline. "His energy level has been down. There's no alarm here. We want to do the right thing and make sure he's 100 percent when he's on the ice."
Johansen currently leads the team with one goal and five assists this season.
