By Aaron Portzline (The Athletic)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In 2017, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella agreed to sit down with The Athletic in the days leading up to training camp for a wide-ranging discussion on the matters surrounding the club. So began an annual tradition.
Last week, on a park bench near Nationwide Arena, Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen sat for a nearly 45-minute chat. Larsen has always seemed comfortable in his chair, but he seemed even more at ease heading into his second season behind the bench.
It’s always a good thing when Larsen’s 2-year-old rescue mix dog, Lady, is part of the conversation.
The Blue Jackets didn’t come close to making the playoffs last season, but they were a far more competitive club than most expected. Now, after the landmark free agent signing of Johnny Gaudreau and another year of development for their young core, the Jackets expect to hang around the playoff picture and the upper half of the Metropolitan Division.
Larsen discussed the signing of Gaudreau, how he anticipates aligning his forwards, the major question marks that exist on defense, the return to the NHL coaching ranks of his friend and former mentor, Tortorella, the elevated expectations this season in Columbus, and much more.
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