You may be right that he is nearly finished, but you are overstating things.
"emotionally unstable, entitled, and locker room cancer", may be fair.
It is 5 seasons without playing a full season, not 6. 2 of those were shortened by Covid. He missed just 3 games in 20. Close enough to a full season, so it is 4 not 6. He missed 11 games in 21 so still 4 but missing 11 games is not that bad.
He didn't hate it here. He was dissatisfied with his usage. That dissatisfaction was unjustified. See entitled above. His agent hinted at a trade request so Chevy moved him when the opportunity came along. At the time, he seemed surprised and hurt by the trade. He has since spoken favourably about Wpg.
I'm not on the 'bring him back bus'. I would have him if the deal was right. No nostalgia involved.
He's often injured. you can't deny it. it was reported in his winnipeg stint his fitnes wasn't great and he resisted efforts by staff and teammates to help him with this....and that it is a continuing problem that leads to constant injury. you forgot his injury in game 1 of the play in round during covid. .....
And now he's demanding a trade from a second team...... because it's the team, the coach, the GM...in Patrick's mind it's NEVER him it's always the team out to get him....
I don't care if he's finished, or beginning....
I don't care about his mental health, sure at a personal level I hope he's ok.
But, as a player? I really am not interested. If he has emotional problems that's his issue and while I wish him health, there is nothing inhumane or wrong with not wanting that type of issue on my team. There's 100 million people with less privilege and money with problems as bad or worse...so getting my panties in a bunch over "poor poor Patrick Laine" isn't on my agenda.
Also, lets not forget he was getting benched and scratched his last stint in Columbus....
He was a problem for the Jets, so he was traded to Columbus, where he became a problem...
2 teams, what 3-4 coaches? benching him, scratching him, pointing to his lack of effort, calling him out on his fitness and desire? and now people want him back on the team?!
LOL NO.