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

[VT]

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

I think overall there was a problem with access. We only see the game, but we don't know if the player is slacking off or has health problems, how he approaches failure, what his approach to training is, etc. Laine follows the "what's on the heart is on the tongue" system.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I'm so glad the head case isn't here anymore. Amazing how a guy who spent half a year in therapy can be so dull as to say what he said.

If he had not quit the team last year, his comments could be stomached. In his case, it shows an appalling lack of self awareness.

Waddell gets an A+ for getting rid of this clown with zero retention.

 

[Marioesque]

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

That's why it's good for him that he now "doesn't care" about the negative stuff. If he can stay that way he'll have a much easier time in life. And should help him as a player a lot.

 

[Jovavic]

If winning is so important to him then why nix a trade to a team on the rise (Minny) and instead go to a team who's rebuilding just like us?

 

[stevo61]

I think overall there was a problem with access. We only see the game, but we don't know if the player is slacking off or has health problems, how he approaches failure, what his approach to training is, etc. Laine follows the "what's on the heart is on the tongue" system.

Yeah but at the end of the day it's what's left on the ice and results. I'm sure there were players who weren't leaving their all in practice, away from the rink, during games but he was no different. Im sure Waddell and the entire staff saw some of that and started making changes he obviously deemed necessary.

Laine started back cheaking well but then he'd go up the other way and try to dance through 4 players when he sucks at zone entries and carrying the puck so maybe he confuses doing too much with level of caring. I personally don't care if he calls people out just as long as he's looking in the mirror while doing it

 

[Crede777]

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

I get that. But if he's talking about management not minding, then in addition to the point that was made that management has changed in the last year... when you're in a rebuild it's assumed that management will be okay with not winning.

 

[NotWendell]

My short analysis from this, and the time he was here, is that Patrik Laine is not very emotional intelligent. He's essentially just lit a fire under the people he wants to vanquish tonight.

 

[NotWendell]

He somehow thinks the reputation of the Habs enhances his personal brand - way more than Winnipeg, Columbus or Minnesota ever could until they win a Cup. Right now, it sounds like he's asking what the org can do for him instead of what he can do for the org.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

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.

every point he has is on the powerplay. That might give some indications.

 

[koteka]

My view of the Canadiens is I don’t see them building a Cup contending team. Their future line up doesn’t scare me. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov? They made some bad early 1st round draft picks (and moves like trading Sergechev) that have hurt them and overrate guys who were ok picks like Suzuki. They seem to be a lot more reactive than look like they are following a plan. Hey, we can get Dach. Hey, we can get Laine.

They really need to hope Reinbacher and Guhle hit. Reinbacher is currently recovering from a knee injury and Guhle looks more like a decent enough 2nd pair guy than a top pair guy. They have other defensemen like Hutson, but Hutson looks like a much better version of Blankenberg, so we’ll see how he can hold up to NHL hits.

I wonder what they even do with Laine in Montreal. Let’s say he scores 30+ goals, mostly on the power play but has bad even strength numbers. How much do you pay a guy like that on his next contract when he is 28 and has his injury history. 4 x $7 million? He is not worth his current contract.

I think that Jackets are more on track to win the Cup than the Canadiens are.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

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.”

Guy can eat shit. “I’m gonna keep that to myself” except for the stuff I don’t. I wished him well but f*** him.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I changed the title because f*** that guy

 

[Monstershockey]

Didn't like his attitude when he got here. Tried to like him, but in the end couldn't. His homer fans with all the excuses didn't help either. Glad he is gone, but would've liked it if they moved him instead of Bjorkstrand when we signed Johnny.

 

[nippanappa]

Fan of Laine but not a fan of his comments on this. We obviously don't know what have happened behind the scenes but this does not make him look good. It puts also his previous team mates in bad light so being classy guy here and not commenting would have been more respectful here.

I do hope that Laine didn't think this fully through and was just answering to question without thinking too much how it sounds. Definitely something to learn out of this for him imo.

 

[VT]

I get that. But if he's talking about management not minding, then in addition to the point that was made that management has changed in the last year... when you're in a rebuild it's assumed that management will be okay with not winning.

We don't know if the problem was in management.

I will say it with examples. Compare M. Tkachuk and Huberdeau. Florida traded him (MT) for two players. It had the reason. Or look at Marner in the past (I don't know how it will be in this season), would you take him on the team for important games? Or Zibanejad in his best years. There are plenty of examples like that. It's one thing to say how you want to win, it's another thing to prove. Or Slovak, I never like Tatar although he is better than Regenda. It is that reason.

Yeah but at the end of the day it's what's left on the ice and results. I'm sure there were players who weren't leaving their all in practice, away from the rink, during games but he was no different. Im sure Waddell and the entire staff saw some of that and started making changes he obviously deemed necessary.

Laine started back cheaking well but then he'd go up the other way and try to dance through 4 players when he sucks at zone entries and carrying the puck so maybe he confuses doing too much with level of caring. I personally don't care if he calls people out just as long as he's looking in the mirror while doing it

But we will not be a winning culture that way. There is a fine line between winners and losers.

----

One thing I'm interested in in this match, though, is how he's going to back up his words. Whether he will play 100% as he can at the moment (I expect skating problems, not always ideal puck handling, a year of not playing and 8 months of not skating will still show), that means he will defend, block shots, play at the boards, etc. or not. Whether he backs up his words with actions. If not, in Slovakia we have a term for it, which I prefer not to write.

 

[KJ Dangler]

Hope some guys take a run at Laine tonight , and the fans give it to him In a big way . He quit on his team .. claimed mental health , and then insinuates some of his former teammates weren’t committed to winning . I would put him thru the boards tonight . Yes he’s scoring PP goals , and he’s minus 9 already .. Eat a bag of D**** Laine

 

[squashmaple]

I hope the fans tonight ignore him completely. Don't cheer or clap politely for whatever tribute video there is, but also don't boo him. Just don't acknowledge him.

 

[majormajor]

I hope the fans tonight ignore him completely. Don't cheer or clap politely for whatever tribute video there is, but also don't boo him. Just don't acknowledge him.

I hope the team doesn't give him a tribute.

If winning is so important to him then why nix a trade to a team on the rise (Minny) and instead go to a team who's rebuilding just like us?

Winning is important to him but we know how primadonnas work, the Montreal brand is more important than the win column.

 

[thebus88]

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

You beat me to it. After running his mouth, I could see Olivier actually doing it.

Can’t be any happier about the turn on Patty. What laughable comments. And people are giving weight to his comments!?! Who the hell is just ok with losing?? People really think the players were fine with losing, but, not the superstar!?! What a joke the dude is. If anything he was literally THE WORST player when it came to handing any sort of adversity on or off the ice. His leave and immediate return after the trade should be looked at a little more deeply, IMO.

The biggest mistake that Jarmo actually ever made was acquiring Laine in the 1st place.

All that said, I couldn’t be any more excited for the debut of “2D Denton”.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Keep your head up, kid.

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

Eh, for a guy who got death threats during his time here, it all probably got associated pretty badly in his brain towards the end. Should've kept his mouth shut.

I do hope that Laine didn't think this fully through and was just answering to question without thinking too much how it sounds. Definitely something to learn out of this for him imo.

He's not gonna learn, he's always had comments like this. The time to learn was before/after the trade/program and clearly he didn't.

Oh well. I still like the player, and I don't think he meant these in the way some folks here are interpreting them. Just focused on the negative and let his mind jump a few hoops into that direction. It's refreshing to some degree but either put up or shut up.

Anyhow. Denton. Yay. Interesting to see if he can do something offensively. I disagree on the above about Hutson being like Blanks, Hutson is way more offensively gifted than Blanks was. We better hope for no penalties because Montreal does have a very good powerplay right now.

 

[MoeBartoli]

A few of my thoughts on tonight’s game:

I’m hoping for a gig win and a solid game by Jet. The defense seems to play a tighter game and think the team will again.

Happy to see Severson scratched. His blunders are often consequential and hard to watch, leaving me with a negative opinion of him.

it’s probably been obvious Laine has been a favorite of mine despite his frustrating turnovers. But his comments in Porty’s article disappointed me. While several have expressed hope for Olivier to confront him, that’s unlikely as my understanding is that they are quite friendly.

Watching Mateychuk’s debut is exciting and I’m expecting he’ll have a strong debut. Will it be a one time appearance or will he stay for multiple games?

Jackets 4, Habs 2

 

[SteelCityCannon]

Oh well. I still like the player, and I don't think he meant these in the way some folks here are interpreting them. Just focused on the negative and let his mind jump a few hoops into that direction. It's refreshing to some degree but either put up or shut up.

Of course he didn't mean what he said. Laines career has nothing but excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse. I brought it up here after he left and got shit for it, but a sincere F U to Patrik Laine.

 

[Halfboard]

Halfboard in Arena tonight with Mrs Board; holding down 119.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

No Labanc