Blue Jackets GM gives Tortorella vote of confidence

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen doesn't plan on making a coaching change amid the team's five-game losing streak.

Kekalainen called a press conference Tuesday to address any questions about head coach John Tortorella's job status.

"I wanted to have this call to just kind of clarify that this coaching staff has got us out of the slumps before, they've done a great job for us in the past five, six years they've been here, and they are the ones that are going to get out of this jam," the general manager said.

Tortorella, who has been Columbus' bench boss since the 2016-17 campaign, is easily the most successful coach in the franchise's history, leading the team to playoff appearances in each of his four prior campaigns at the helm. No other coach in the club's history has led the team to multiple playoff berths.

"He's done a great job for us. I think we owe him a lot for what he's done for this franchise," Kekalainen said of Tortorella, who's in the last year of his contract. "All the other issues will get solved in time."

The 8-10-5 Blue Jackets are seventh in their division in points percentage, ahead of only the Detroit Red Wings. Columbus got off to a slow start last season, too, beginning the year 5-7-3. Kekalainen believes a similar turnaround is in the cards, despite the shortened campaign.

"I have full confidence we're going to snap out of this," Kekalainen said.

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