GDT: Welcome to the NHL Denton | MTL @ CBJ | 7 PM EST

[Iron Balls McGinty]

LOL. He’s one of those guys who gave up.

I appreciate the candor and honesty but maybe check a mirror

I hope some of these quotes go up on the board tonight for motivation. This is not the team he left behind.

He's happy in Montreal right now until he isn't. Just like he was here and in Winnipeg before that.

 

[VT]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6016003/2024/12/23/patrik-laine-canadiens-blue-jackets-nhl/

Take this as you will. As I see it, we changed management and he still wanted out. I've always said, you can be a part of the problem or a part of the solution. DW knew what he was doing and needed to get him out of the room as soon as possible.

“I feel like we were just doing the same thing year after year. I was tired of losing and just giving up when it’s December to start focusing on next year. I’m not going to do that. That’s frustrating as a player when you’re trying to win and some people are, you know, not like that.

“They’re a little too satisfied and too comfortable where they’re at. It wasn’t really a fit for me anymore. But here (in Montreal), it doesn’t matter if we’re winning or losing, we’re always trying our best. That’s what I felt about it (in Columbus).”

Laine was pressed by reporters to clarify if he was referring to his Blue Jackets’ teammates or the club’s management.

“I’ll leave that for everybody’s imagination,” Laine said. “But there were certainly, certainly people like that who were a little too comfortable and fine with losing and just doing the same thing year after year. I’m going to leave that up for discussion for everybody else.”

If anyone would want to read the all article but is not signed on The Athletic:

 

[Crede777]

Apparently it never occurred to him that the team was rebuilding.

 

[JacketFanInFL]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6016003/2024/12/23/patrik-laine-canadiens-blue-jackets-nhl/

Take this as you will. As I see it, we changed management and he still wanted out. I've always said, you can be a part of the problem or a part of the solution. DW knew what he was doing and needed to get him out of the room as soon as possible.

“I feel like we were just doing the same thing year after year. I was tired of losing and just giving up when it’s December to start focusing on next year. I’m not going to do that. That’s frustrating as a player when you’re trying to win and some people are, you know, not like that.

“They’re a little too satisfied and too comfortable where they’re at. It wasn’t really a fit for me anymore. But here (in Montreal), it doesn’t matter if we’re winning or losing, we’re always trying our best. That’s what I felt about it (in Columbus).”

Laine was pressed by reporters to clarify if he was referring to his Blue Jackets’ teammates or the club’s management.

“I’ll leave that for everybody’s imagination,” Laine said. “But there were certainly, certainly people like that who were a little too comfortable and fine with losing and just doing the same thing year after year. I’m going to leave that up for discussion for everybody else.”

He’s not wrong.

 

[stevo61]

I don't doubt that he's partly right and why Waddell cleaned house like he did but at the end of the day when you are paid 8.7mil you are expected to be a difference maker and be part of the solution. He wasn't any better than the people he's calling out

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

He’s not wrong.

He's not. But I believe this was a shot aimed at management that had already been replaced and he still wanted out not willing to give a new chance to new management. He chose to remain part of the problem.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

He sounds very bitter towards the fan base. I know a lot of this probably stems back to comments made during the start of his leave on a podcast, but holy shit he sounds so bitter. I’m glad he’s doing better but there was no need for the bombs to the fanbase

 

[stevo61]

He sounds very bitter towards the fan base. I know a lot of this probably stems back to comments made during the start of his leave on a podcast, but holy shit he sounds so bitter. I’m glad he’s doing better but there was no need for the bombs to the fanbase

It's a weird personality trait in some for sure. Can be hard on himself but if it comes externally it's treated as an attack. I'm still curious to see how it's handled when he slumps in Montreal

 

[SteelCityCannon]

Patrik Laine seemed to perfectly describe...Patrik Laine.

 

[majormajor]

He sounds very bitter towards the fan base. I know a lot of this probably stems back to comments made during the start of his leave on a podcast, but holy shit he sounds so bitter. I’m glad he’s doing better but there was no need for the bombs to the fanbase

Given how terrible he was at times, our fanbase was incredibly generous and supportive of him.

 

[Xoggz22]

For anyone that complained about GMDW moving him out as quickly as possible... I think you have your reason. He clearly wanted OUT and I think given some of those quotes, I am quite certain they did not want him poising the room.

I don't see him as a fit, especially seeing the game CBJ wants to play, and it appears there is one common thing in his stops at all three locations... him. Maybe he was the issue and not the teams.

 

[VT]

Given how terrible he was at times, our fanbase was incredibly generous and supportive of him.

He's right. Unfortunately. Remember what some veterans + Werenski have said.

After the injuries, when he was getting in shape, he looked really terrible, diplomatic said. I think he will look today too.

Apparently it never occurred to him that the team was rebuilding.

It wasn't about losing, it was that some people didn't mind.

 

[majormajor]

Laine and the Jackets were never a good match and I don't blame him at all for being tired of losing and wanting a fresh start elsewhere.

But these comments do seem hilarious to me in one respect. The Jackets have at times during this rebuild had an aura of negativity around them precisely because they were not okay with losing. They brought in Laine, they brought in Gaudreau, they traded for Provorov and Severson, they tried to hire Babcock. While the team was adding top young talent they were still trying to win, and it hurt when they were bad.

Meanwhile the Habs have been doing a more intentional rebuild with three consecutive 8th place finishes in their division. They have had a lot of positive feelings especially with Marty St. Louis coming in and everyone supposedly learning a great amount. Their fanbase was giddy last year despite yet another last place finish in their division. This is the first year they've had a bit of disappointment.

 

[Marioesque]

It's a weird personality trait in some for sure. Can be hard on himself but if it comes externally it's treated as an attack. I'm still curious to see how it's handled when he slumps in Montreal

He is very honest, and when you ask questions he'll answer them honestly. It's not like he held a press conference to throw some jabs. He was asked so he answered. Might sometimes be better if he passed such questions.

 

[CBJx614]

 

[NotWendell]

He's gonna come across as the villain for these statements, but they needed to be said. They certainly helped turn the page on the idea he was ever going to perform at an elite level here. Much of that limitation is of his own shortcomings.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

I hope Olivier lines up Laine today. Hell just sneeze on him and he'll be out a week.

 

[stevo61]

He is very honest, and when you ask questions he'll answer them honestly. It's not like he held a press conference to throw some jabs. He was asked so he answered.

That has very little to do with what I said. Laine is a guy who is talked about as being very hard on himself but clearly if it comes from the fans he treats it very different. He can say he doesn't care but obviously he cares about people's opinions a great deal which is also why I said I wonder how he and the fanbase will handle it when he hits an inevitable slump or them team does

 

[CBJx614]

If anyone would want to read the all article but is not signed on The Athletic:

View attachment 950344View attachment 950345

I was indifferent on the trade and hoped he played well. Now I gotta admit, I'm kinda rooting against him...that's not how you handle that situation after missing massive chunks of playing time while he was here. What exactly did he do to help change things? Cause from the fans POV he was a major part of the issue...

 

[VT]

He is very honest, and when you ask questions he'll answer them honestly. It's not like he held a press conference to throw some jabs. He was asked so he answered. Might sometimes be better if he passed such questions.

We'll see how he plays today. It's understandable that the skating will be terrible, but there are things like playing near the boards, without the puck, defending, blocking shots, etc. Sort of shows us how to fight for the PO.

 

[stevo61]

More on the positive side I'm stoked to see Mateychuk and how he handles himself. Pretty easy to get amped up and try to do too much but he's a pretty level headed kid and I expect him to handle it well

 

[VT]

I was indifferent on the trade and hoped he played well. Now I gotta admit, I'm kinda rooting against him...that's not how you handle that situation after missing massive chunks of playing time while he was here. What exactly did he do to help change things? Cause from the fans POV he was a major part of the issue...

We probably won't find out.

 

[Marioesque]

That has very little to do with what I said. Laine is a guy who is talked about as being very hard on himself but clearly if it comes from the fans he treats it very different. He can say he doesn't care but obviously he cares about people's opinions a great deal which is also why I said I wonder how he and the fanbase will handle it when he hits an inevitable slump or them team does

I'm guessing his therapy has focused on getting him to care a bit less about the negativity because it clearly did affect him before. I don't know if he reads hockey forums but I hope not because there are always those irrational haters.

We'll see how he plays today. It's understandable that the skating will be terrible, but there are things like playing near the boards, without the puck, defending, blocking shots, etc.

He had 7 shots against WPG, so I'm sure he'll be motivated against Jackets too. Should be a good game!

 

[stevo61]

I'm guessing his therapy has focused on getting him to care a bit less about the negativity because it clearly did affect him before. I don't know if he reads hockey forums but I hope not because there are always those irrational haters.



He had 7 shots against WPG, so I'm sure he'll be motivated against Jackets too. Should be a good game!

There's going to be haters anywhere and he's now in a much bigger market where they can turn way more than Columbus when that team is expected to win. The only out of touch thing with his comments were that he basically excluded himself and he can't honestly believe he was part of the solution last year even when in the lineup. That was a failure top to bottom, Laine included. We had 2 players who should have left last season and from a personal view been happy with what they did last year, Laine wasn't one of them

 

[VT]

He had 7 shots against WPG, so I'm sure he'll be motivated against Jackets too. Should be a good game!

2 shots in 5v5

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