The Canadian was in Columbus last night to face the Blue Jackets and try to extend his three-game winning streak.
It was also a return home for the star striker Patrik Lainehe who played his first game in Columbus since he requested a transaction from the team's management last summer to ultimately end up in Montreal.
Before the meeting, Laine opened up for the first time about the circumstances that led to his departure. In an interview, he shed light on his reasons for wanting to leave the organization a few months ago.
When I signed a contract there, it was clear that it was because I loved the city and the organization and I didn't want to leave. Then a lot of things happened and that was enough for me.
I felt like we were doing the same thing year after year. I was tired of losing and giving up on the season every December and already starting to think about the following year. It was a frustrating situation as a player. I wanted to win.
They are a little too content and comfortable in their current position and it was no longer a good fit for me. Here in Montreal, it doesn't matter if we win or lose, we always give our best, which is something I no longer felt in Columbus.
I'm having the best time of my life in Montreal right now.
– Patrik Laine
Obviously, his crude and unfiltered comments really did not please his former teammates who made him a target from the start of the meeting, hitting him solidly every time they had the opportunity.
Result: He had to leave the match and never returned afterward.
Today we learned that the team's management had prepared a tribute video to celebrate the star forward's return to Columbus. It was to be presented on the arena's giant screen during the first commercial break of the match.
However, after being made aware of Laine's comments made during the day, members of management decided to cancel the whole thing and not present her. For them, it was a lack of respect for the organization.
Let's say that the CH attacker burned several bridges with his incendiary remarks.
At the time of writing these lines, we do not know the state of health of the CH star striker.
