After the Columbus Blue Jackets' 3-2 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild, it makes sense for a coach or a player to be upset. The team had a long break before playing the Wild. Finding it within yourself can be tough.
Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella acknowledges that finding the "will" is paramount to a successful team.
"I think a big part of winning in this league is the will," said Tortorella. "I think that's something that's been very inconsistent in our game. And I know it's there. I've seen it there. We just need to get back to it consistently."
This year's Blue Jackets have gone on winning streaks and losing streaks, but more than anything else, they've been inconsistent. Only the top players have stepped up, and the depth players on a game-to-game basis have disappointed. Hard work will be the catalyst for setting the team on the right path, Tortorella said.
"I think sometimes you get fooled," Tortorella said. "You can say you're working hard, and maybe pretend you're working hard, but deep down you know when you're not working hard. That's what I want our players to feel, and I'm not sure all of them can feel that right now – knowing that after a game, when they go home and leave the parking lot, that 'I gave everything.'
"I'm not sure all of our players can say that, and that's what has to happen for this team to win."
One player has kept the Blue Jackets afloat despite the downturn in play. Artemi Panarin always wins his board battles, is a solid player away from the puck, and leads the Blue Jackets in points so far this season. When asked about Panarin, Tortorella decided to heap praise upon him and let it be known that one of the newest Blue Jackets is leading the way with his play.
"He's a hell of a player. He's a hell of a talent," Tortorella said. "You know what? We've got a guy (Panarin) who is probably one of the best talents in the league. He probably is our hardest working guy on the team. I haven't seen many guys in this league work as hard as he does, on the pucks, fighting for pucks. Does he make mistakes defensively and lose his coverages here and there? Yeah, but we're going to live with that with the will that he has."
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