Tortorella on Panarin's absence from lineup: 'He sh-- his pants, he was puking'

Warning: Story contains coarse language

Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella made it clear that star winger Artemi Panarin is out with an illness Tuesday despite recent trade rumors.

"He shit his pants, he was puking, he did everything, so enough," Tortorella told reporters Tuesday ahead of the Blue Jackets' tilt with the Montreal Canadiens. "I was told he's sick, he's not eating, he's puking .... he's sick as a dog, yes he's very sick and that's why he's out."

Panarin is one of the most highly demanded players rumored to be available ahead of the Feb. 25 trade deadline.

It didn't take long for Twitter to have some fun following Tortorella's scrum.

Not completely sold on Panarin as the top forward on a contender but apparently he can give you an explosive number two. https://t.co/8b2nRJKSQ2

- Down Goes Brown (@DownGoesBrown) February 19, 2019

Two-way production ups his trade value https://t.co/s4CyJQGoNO

- Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) February 19, 2019

"It's a lowah body injury, Brooksie..." https://t.co/zP1Et7MYGy

- Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 19, 2019

Heading into Tuesday's action, the Blue Jackets occupy the third seed in the Metropolitan Division and sit just one point clear of a playoff position.

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