He got banged up by all the targeting and the team decided to keep him out of the game since some Jackets were on a mission to injure him.I came here looking for some intel as to why he left the game yesterday…read the last two pages…and WTF??
Portzline was blaming Laine in an article last summer for some of the players CJB traded away, including players traded before Laine joined the team or not even a month after that trade.
Given their difficult history together, I can only speculate that Werenski and Laine were still not the best of friends. I don’t think he needed any extra motivation to play hard against him.
Werenski was clearly pretty pissed off by Laine's comments, just watch his post game interview
Ouff, big woop Werenski. It's hockey, not boxing. Some people are in the wrong business. The league over the years is promoting talent over goons and we are heading in the right direction. It's just words, nothing more. Hopefully, Laine is all right. Next game, Werenski will likely get the royal treatment too by the Habs.
Sounds like Laine was talking about Zach specifically. In which case, puts werenskis indignation into context. On the other hand, don't know what actually happened only that Laine's mental health issues were a contributing factor and that his comments shifted the conversation to something pettier as an explanation for needing to move on. Laine was probably already in bad shape and in need of help in Winnipeg and this carried over to Columbus. Its only been a couple of years since mental health discussion has been publicly distigmatized so there's that also. The likeliest explanation is that he didnt get the help he needed for a number of reasons unrelated to columbus tanking. Thats the only unfortunate fallout I see in this affair. I dont mind some trash talking. Its part of the fun.
Would you bow out if Xhekaj had your back? And even if Laine did, so what, really? He just got out of the NHL players assistance program and this is very heavy psychologically. We now know better than to execute shell shocked soldiers thinking it’s cowardice like in World War One.
Its a catch 22, speaking out will always be frowned upon whether it's from fans, players or hockey media because it's so uncommon so it sticks out and gives easy fodder for opposing fans and players."Hockey players are so vanilla. Always repeating the same boring answers. No personality."
*hockey player talks trash about a shit franchise, shows a personality*
"he should shut his mouth. Hockey players should show more class."
I barely post here anymore - the Slaf posters last year polluted the boards with endless, braindead posts. And they popped up again this year when he was struggling, so sure in their positions, ready to be embarrassed again.
I'm a bit surprised at the reaction this has generated within the fan base. Considering the stuff players in other leagues have said in similar situations (past player facing former team), Laine's not saying anything too radical. Laine was just being honest and frankly him getting injured and some questionable defensive breakdowns and goals were what made the big difference than his comments pre game.
I think Werenski's behaviour is inexcusable and shows an unprofessional like conduct on his part. Sure, your feelings got hurt but trying to intentionally injure your former teammate that you despise is gutless at best. Grow a pair and brush it off, that's what grown man do. It's not a boxing rink. Unfortunately, despite the league's best efforts to eliminate fighting in the game, old mindsets still endure and these situations still happen.
It’s completely fine, I’m not one of those hockey players should all be vanilla guys, I actually enjoy the intensity and animosity, but I would have enjoyed it 10x more if he backed it up instead of hiding.
LOL.. This board is something else sometimes.
