Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella revealed Thursday that he won't be going to Los Angeles to lead the Metropolitan Division at the All-Star Game, citing a family matter.
After an outpouring of well-wishes from his peers, Tortorella wanted to clarify that he wasn't dealing with an emergency - instead, one of his dogs is sick, he told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch.
"I appreciate so much the number of messages I have received since the announcement," Tortorella said. "But this absolutely is not an emergency. I want to clear that up.
"I needed a few days during the All-Star break - not having to go to the All-Star Game - to take care of something very important to my family and my son."
In response to missing All-Star festivities, the NHL - just like they do with players who can't make it - made Tortorella miss a game, so he did not coach Thursday against Nashville.
The 58-year-old owns five dogs, and it's his son Nick's 10-year-old pitbull, Emma, that is in ill health. Nick, a U.S. Army Ranger, is stationed abroad.
This would have been the second All-Star Game of Tortorella's career.
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