“I spoke to my psychologist about it as I was a little nervous the day before. I decided that putting on this sweater today [mardi] was an accomplishment and everything else was extra.”
Whatever Patrik Laine achieves from now on will just be icing on the cake. The Finnish forward believes his greatest accomplishment was achieved Tuesday by returning to the game in a Montreal Canadiens uniform.
Because, to get there, the crossing of the desert was long. Here is a summary of the challenges that the Finn has had to overcome since the start of his young career in the National Hockey League.
January 23, 2021 – Mistreated by veterans, he is traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets
Rumors of an argument with Jets veterans Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler then caused a lot of ink to flow in Winnipeg.
Wheeler himself takes part of the blame in this story by recognizing that he could have “communicated better” with the young player, who allegedly asked to leave the Manitoba team, disillusioned by the treatment to which he was subjected.
November 5, 2021 – Abdominal muscle injury
The Blue Jackets forward was injured during an overtime period against the Colorado Avalanche. The team announces an absence of four to six weeks.
December 6, 2021 – He returns to Finland for personal reasons
Still on the Blue Jackets’ injured list, Laine leaves the team’s entourage to recharge his batteries in his native Finland following the tragic and sudden death of his father in late November. We learned later that he remained seriously affected by this ordeal.
Laine returns to action on December 30.
April 17, 2022 – Injured again
Laine suffered an undisclosed upper body injury. He will miss the Blue Jackets’ final seven games of the season as he prepares to become a restricted free agent. He will agree to terms on a four-year contract, with an average annual value of $8.7 million, with the Ohio team during the summer.
October 12, 2022 – Injured at curtain-raiser
Laine falls in action again in the Blue Jackets’ first game of the regular season. He is expected to be absent for three to four weeks due to a sprained elbow. He will return to action on October 25.
November 13, 2022 – You know the song
Another injury for the Blue Jackets sniper. This time, it was a sprained ankle suffered during a game against the New York Islanders. He will be removed from the injured list on December 1st.
March 24, 2023 – Another end of the season in the infirmary
Laine is dealing with a triceps injury and is expected to miss two to four weeks. He finished the season as he had finished the previous one, on the floor.
September 18, 2023 – Mike Babcock resigns as Blue Jackets head coach
Hired on July 1, Babcock will not have coached a single game in Columbus. A story spread by the popular podcast Spittin’ Chiclets according to which he had asked to have access to personal photos in his players’ cell phones sank him.
It is not known exactly how Laine was affected by this shake-up at the heart of the organization, but it is said that it was young Blue Jackets players who were victims of this unwelcome conduct.
Pascal Vincent takes over as head coach which brings us to the next event…
November 19, 2023 – Laine is left out by Vincent
The Quebec coach decides to send a message to his star player by making him rot in the stands against the Philadelphia Flyers.
“No one is bigger than the Blue Jackets,” explains Vincent.
Laine cannot digest this affront, which he describes as “the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me”.
December 14, 2023 – Another boo-boo
Victim of a broken collarbone, Laine must be absent for a period of six weeks.
But he will not return to the game. On January 28, he joined the National Hockey League player assistance program to take care of his mental health.
June 12, 2024 – Laine requests a trade
Wanting a change of scenery, the imposing attacker requested a transaction from the management of the Blue Jackets while he was still subscribing to the player assistance program.
Later in the summer, renowned The Athletic journalist Aaron Portzline said in a podcast that veterans had asked for Laine’s departure in a team meeting in 2021.
After apparently refusing a trade to the Minnesota Wild, Laine was finally traded to the Montreal Canadiens on August 19.
September 28, 2024 – Hard contact with Cédric Paré
Pumped up as the start of the regular season approaches in his new colors, Laine, warmly applauded by the fans, sees his momentum slowed down during a preparatory match against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He left the match at the start of the first period after a hard knee-to-knee contact with Cédric Paré, an American League caliber player.
Against all odds, however, he avoided a serious injury that required an operation. His absence is expected to last two to three months.
He returned on December 2 and scored with a sublime shot in his first official game with the Canadiens, in front of an excited crowd at the Bell Center, against the Islanders.
Patrik Laine scores his first goal with CH! –
