Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois was glued to the bench for the majority of the Columbus Blue Jackets' game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

Dubois didn't see the ice for the final 44:36 minutes of the contest and finished with just 3:55 minutes of ice time on a handful of shifts in the first period. The Blue Jackets lost 3-2 in overtime.

Columbus head coach John Tortorella defended his decision to keep one of his top players on the bench for practically the entire game.

"I really don't make decisions as far as minutes. It's up to the player to show me," Tortorella said postgame, per Fox Sports Columbus. "If there's one thing I'm pretty easy to read on is the minutes. You're going to get out there if you play the proper way. ... The onus is on the player. And it's on all players - not just the player we're talking about here that sat. It's all the players. I'm not a hard guy to read as far as that's concerned."

Dubois made it known in late December that he wants to be traded. The former No. 3 pick explained he doesn't want his situation to distract the team, though Tortorella recently said Dubois hasn't given a reason for his request.

"I've coached Luc like this for a couple years, as far as trying to get him to get some growth in his game and growth as a pro," Tortorella added Thursday. "Nothing changes here. ... I think you're asking the wrong guy. I'm just a coach trying to make it work with a hockey club, trying to find a way to win games. The person that you keep talking to me about, you should ask him."

Dubois declined to speak to the media after the contest, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. The 22-year-old has one goal in five games this season.

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