It’s time to criticize coaching decisions at the World Cup of Hockey. What better place to start than with John Tortorella and his decision to bench Dustin Byfuglien for Team USA’s first game in the tournament against Team Europe?
[link_box id=”22277″ site_id=”17″ layout=”link-box-third” alignment=”alignright”]It might be a bit silly analyzing moves at a tournament which didn’t even exist last season, but Tortorella’s decision to keep Byfuglien out of the lineup is both one which defies logic and raises some questions surrounding ulterior motives.
Jack Johnson earned the start over Byfuglien on defense. You read that correctly. Byfuglien, one of the best defenders in the NHL who can completely shift a game with his physical presence, was scratched in favor of Johnson who is … none of those things. Byfuglien tallied 53 points in 81 games in the 2015-16 season while demolishing opponents on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Johnson had 14 points in 60 games in 2015-16 while intimidating exactly no one.
Via Yahoo Sports, Tortorella explained his decision:
“It’s just the way it worked out. Through the games, through the minutes that the guys played, we felt to start the tournament this would be our lineup.”
Tortorella used Byfuglien in three pre-tournament games and tried him out at forward during the team’s game against Finland. Big Buff said he didn’t enjoy skating at forward and now he finds himself sitting out during Team USA’s first official game in the tournament.
Unfortunately, due to the current sporting climate which is focused on nothing but anthem talk, one can’t help but wonder whether Byfuglien’s recent statements about Tortorella’s stance on benching players who protest the anthem played a role. It’s a reach, but it’s one fans can’t help but make.
Realistically, Tortorella’s decision is unrelated to anthem talk and more centered around the fact he routinely makes questionable decisions at the expense of his own team.
