Toggle sidebar

Around The NHL: Part XXXI

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
JT Kreider said:
They should have done whatever it took to mend the relationship with Dubois. Fire Torts, move the team to Quebec City, at the very least give him more than the paltry $5 million contract they cornered him into signing.. I mean BRADY SKJEI even got more money on his contract, and Strome only got $500k less on his. Pandemic or not. Incredible lack of thinking big picture.
Click to expand...

I don’t think PLD is the caliber player you fire a coach for.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CasusBelli and KirkAlbuquerque
Uninstaaled said:
His dad works for Winnipeg so his folks live there.

This may have been a reasonable consolation for him.
Click to expand...

I imagine there was a father-son phone call to discuss the city and whether he’d be happy living close to his family before Winnipeg put such a heavy offer on the table. I think it’s a lot more likely that, combined with being in a more offensive system, it’s enough to keep PLD happy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: egelband and gabevh3
One of the things about Columbus is, even before Torts, who gave them the stifling identity, they’ve never been a real offensive team where star players could thrive. Outside of Nash and Panarin, there was one season from Johansen with 71 points and a few big seasons from Ray Whitney and David Vyborny. Panarin has the two highest scoring seasons in franchise history at 82 and 87 points. Columbus is actually a decent city and has decent fans, but it just seems like it’s never been a fun environment for top offensive talent. Nash and Panarin are the only players to ever have their best statistical seasons there and in Panarin’s case he was increasing every year and then smashed his Columbus totals the second he left. It just seems like if you’re a super talented player, Columbus isn’t the team where you reach your peak and most players want the opportunity to do so.
 
Machinehead said:
I really don't get this from a Columbus perspective because Torts is only going to get angrier.

He wanted PLD to play more defense and he's getting a guy who hasn't crossed the red line in his career.
Click to expand...

Laine has changed his game a lot. He was showing another level before he got hurt. Problem is i don't see him staying in columbus.
 
Bacon Artemi Bravo said:
On the surface, great return. When you really think about it though, all CBJ did was add another star who is not going to work with torts and it’s going to want out of there ASAP.
Click to expand...
Where does this narrative keep coming from? Laine never had an issue with his coaching staff, outside of his minutes which were more related to the fact that guys like Wheeler were getting infront of him despite that not being in the best interest of the team. I mean I'm not trying to compare Laine to Panarin, because Artemi is clearly the better player. But he got along with Tortorella just fine, and it's not like Panarin is this very defensive minded forward either, who skates his ass off in every shift... Laine also never had an issue with Winnipeg as a city, not that I've heard of.

What has been rumoured some time, atleast in the Finnish media was locker room issues between veteran players and younger players in Winnipeg. And reading this statement from Wheeler makes it sound where there is smoke, there is fire:


Even as a Finn, I had no problems calling out Laine on his third year where he was extremely streaky and looked very disinterested at times. But last year, he was the best forward of Winnipeg and it was not even close. Not just goalscoring either, plenty of assists and a much improved 2-way game. I have no doubt he will be fine in Columbus. While their C situation is attroucious, they have lots of good puck moving D who can get the puck to him and trust me, he can make things happen himself.

Winnipeg also did good on this trade, they fixed their problems at center depth for a long time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bleedblue94
Footage of Tortorella visiting Laine after the trade:

PN1o0n.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cmox, DanishRanger, bleedblue94 and 8 others
Unless Laine absolutely lights the world on fire in Columbus for you older fans this is going to be a Mike Gartner on the North Stars type deal.

He's going to get flipped to a team with a lot of cap room for futures this summer. Canucks/Devils/Hawks/Kings/Wings are all possibilities. Carolina is out.
 
In a recent interview, Kakko said Laine is the player he watches the most. Better not get any ideas! :mad:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom