The Columbus Blue Jackets can't seem to catch a break. The 2015-16 NHL season has become another lost one in Columbus, even though the Blue Jackets were a popular preseason pick to finally deliver on the promise of their talented roster. But injuries and head scratching inconsistency doomed former head coach Todd Richards and doomed the current campaign and whatever strange joo joo has overtaken Columbus may have doomed current bench boss John Tortorella too.
OK, OK that's probably a little strong. But after Tortorella was injured during an on-ice collision at Blue Jackets practice on Friday, it's hard not to at least entertain the notion of a cursed Columbus team. As a result of the collision - which happened at the Blue Jackets' outdoor practice at Winter Park in what was meant to be a fun experience for the team and for the city - Tortorella has suffered broken ribs, according to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports.
After the injury, which occurred when Tortorella collided with Rene Borque, he was initially attended to by Blue Jackets training staff and skated off under his own power. He was then ferried to Riverside Methodist Hospital by an ambulance.
"He's stubborn but he needs to go get checked out," Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Post-Dispatch. "His health is the most important thing."
Early indications were that Tortorella's back had "locked up" on him, but if it is indeed broken ribs, it's hard to imagine Torts being cleared to make the trip to Boston for the Blue Jackets' Saturday game.
