Are there any players who can't play more than 50 games a year making 8 million? This is without even bringing up his dog shit effort and defensive game most nights. He's a fine gamble if Colombus retains/takes back bad contracts.
I totally agree with this. They would have to retain at least 25% (and I know Waddel said they wouldnt but its probably just a tactic). We're talking two years at 6,5m$ assuming CLB retains 25%. Not the end of the world as of now. And trade him at TDL26.
You would think, there can be negotiations there eh.............Waddell I am sure, wants this situation resolved before the season starts...
It’s not baseless speculating. He’s in the player assistance program. That is known.
Since joining the Jackets, Laine has 138 points in 174 games. That's a 65 point pace in an 82 game season which is extremely generous to assume he would play close to 82 games given how often he's injured. 8.7 million for a player who is wildly inconsistent with his effort, is awful defensively, not dependable to play most of the season, and has frankly been hit or miss with his production in the games he does play is not good.
I absolutely love Konecny as a player and the Timmins fan boys need to admit we royally f***ed up by standing pat and not trading up for him, but it doesn't really make any sense with this:
Sounds like a player that wants to test free agency. He can’t be serious with those demands.
For me Suzuki is a much better player when he isn't deferring to Caufield all the time.
This is some good insight and thank you for posting this as I was not aware of this and it is almost certain at the root of his issueS. Losing a loved one really puts things into perspective and sometimes a game gets put on the backburner. I have speculated before that getting back to doing what he loved in a die hard hockey market may just be the thing that gets this kid back on track (after getting the help he needs of course). There have been many hot takes about Laine in this thread about him being a reclamation project, washed up etc...Personally I think his mental health issues stem more from his father's passing, then where he was playing hockey.
“He’s been my No. 1 fan and supporter always,” Laine said. “Not that my mom and sister and everyone else hasn’t been, but I think hockey was kind of our thing and our passion. I definitely wouldn’t be here without him. He always watched my games ever since I was a kid. ... so it’s definitely tough. Losing my best friend, it’s tough.” - Patrik Laine
Patrik Laine hits the ice again with Blue Jackets after father's death
Laine has been out of the lineup since Nov. 3 dealing with an oblique injury.www.nbcsports.com
I lost my father a few years ago (Pre-Covid) to a heart attack. I'm twice Laine's age and it still sent me for a loop. I went through a long period of time where I just didn't give a shit about anything. Eventually I snapped out of it, but not without a lot of help from my family and friends. Hopefully the assistance program has provided him all the help and support that he needs.
As for the media in Montreal. Meh, Laine to my knowledge doesn't read or speak French. So it's only the idiots in the English media that he'd have to ignore lol
I understand, but nobody would give him 8.7x2 if he was a free agent right now, but we should potentially give up assets to do that? It makes no sense. If he was producing consistently or only had one year then I can understand the temptation, but he's averaged 65 points in an 82 game season as a Blue Jacket. Add in all the other factors, and we shouldn't be interested unless they are retaining or accepting cap in return.
So Nashville is getting Laine at 5.7 million while dumping a 2.5 million cap dump. You're proving my point, he's not someone that should be actively targetted without hefty cap adjustments.
Former 2nd OA means nothing, he's not lived up to that at all and he's rarely healthy for the past 3 seasons. He is who he is at this point.
I'd definitely gamble if the cost is right.
