Lately, Laine’s career has been uneventful, and at the beginning of the summer he requested a transfer to another part of Columbus.
Patrik Lainea and his agent has permission to look for a new address himself for the Finnish NHL forward who wants to leave the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he may have to return to Columbus, the general manager of the Blue Jackets Don Waddell quoth in an interview with TSN.
– This is a different situation than anything I’ve dealt with, Waddell began.
In the summer, Laine completed the treatment program of the NHL and the players’ association NHLPA, which is intended for players suffering from mental health problems, gambling addiction or other problems. Lately, Laine’s career has been uneventful, and at the beginning of the summer he requested a transfer to another part of Columbus.
– I have had players who ask for a transfer. Sometimes they trade, sometimes they don’t. I don’t know Patrik, I wasn’t here last year. He went to a treatment program and he has been very vocal about not wanting to be here. There was all kinds of things going on in the locker room, and he doesn’t want to. Knowing the situation, it’s harder to bring him back, but even if I say so, it could be an option.
Waddell said that if the player trade does not happen, Laine may have to return to Columbus despite his words.
– I can try to do a player trade, but if a deal doesn’t happen, he has to come back here to the camp. In that case, we welcome him and try to make the best of the situation, Waddell said.
Laine moved to Columbus in the 2020–2021 season. Last season, he played 18 matches in which he scored six goals. In total, he has played 480 regular season games in the NHL and scored 204 goals.