Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine will be out indefinitely while he receives care from the NHL and NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program, the league announced Sunday.
GM Jarmo Kekäläinen issued the following statement:
Patrik has our complete support, and our sole concern is his well-being. Out of respect for Patrik, we will have no further comment.
Laine, 25, has not played since sustaining a clavicle fracture on Dec. 14 against the Maple Leafs. Head coach Pascal Vincent said yesterday that Laine had suffered a setback in his recovery and left the team’s road trip to return to Columbus.
The Finnish winger is in his fourth season with the Blue Jackets since a Jan. 2021 blockbuster deal saw him arrive in Columbus by way of Winnipeg, who selected him second overall in the 2016 draft. The clavicle injury, as well as an illness, an upper-body injury and one healthy scratch, have limited him to 18 games in 2023-24.
His six goals and three assists equate to 0.50 points per game, a sharp decline after averaging 0.97 points per game across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. This year’s injuries have played a significant role in his lack of production, though. Before sustaining the clavicle fracture, Laine had points in five of his last six games.
Laine has 64 goals, 74 assists and 138 points in 174 games since the Blue Jackets acquired him. His 204 career goals and 388 career points rank fourth among 2016 draftees behind Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Alex DeBrincat.
The 6-foot-5, 215-lb winger is in the second season of a four-year, $34.8MM contract with an $8.7MM cap hit signed in July 2022. He has a 10-team no-trade list and will be a UFA upon expiry in 2026.
FREE LAINE
Is the number of players entering the assistance program higher this year? Either way, I hope Laine gets back on track. Kid has a ton of talent, but he’s been struggling. Hopefully this is the support he needs to be his best self.
I think that the stigma some have associated with entering the program is fading, thankfully. So either more guys are entering, or more of those that are entering are willing to make said info public. Or both.
snowflake
Because having mental health / substance use / whatever he is going through makes him a “snowflake”. You are a clown.
how’s the koolaid taste, bruh??
If his leave is not for mental health or substance abuse & is in fact “whatever he is going through” aka wants out of Columbus then yes, that is weak.
Incels love to call everyone “snowflakes”.
another koolaid drinker, hilarious!!!
Incels love to call everyone “koolaid drinkers”, as well.
kept all your participation trophies, didn’t ya??!!!
Yes, I keep all my participation trophies the way incels keep their “innocence” and “purity”.
For life.
“Snowflake needs his safe space!” says the man who is terrified of black people, brown people, women, books about brown and black people, gay people, books about women, science, books about gay people, books about science, and Disney.
Snowflakes love calling everyone “incels”
I got all mine, I even got a trophy for attendance
Smh I need to enter the Fan Assistance Program.
He does not want to be in Columbus plain and simple. He wants out of there in the worst way.
If that were true, why did he sign that huge extension?
for the money, Einstein
Yea weather its a substance abuse issue, mental health issue or whatever the case may be i hope he finds himself. Ive struggled off and on with opiates for moat of my adult life. Ive always worked for what i had, never stole anything and dont have a criminal record so ive been more fortunate then most but hope this guy comes back better then ever
Yea also most not moat
Grammar police are here
Fortnite addiction
I don’t follow the league as closely as I used to, and I’m not blaming Laine’s situation on him, but: how does Jarmo still have a job?
He’s been riding that sweep of the Lightning for years. That said I think he knows his days are numbered, at least that’s how I interpreted his off-season moves, they reeked of desperation.
Which sweep of the Lightning?
Take guts to admit problems seek help . Most great men from suburbs prefer to be tough drinking regularly. Blaming other for their problems.
The NHL should investigate the Flames and Dillon Dube.