Patrik Laine has had enough.
The Montreal Canadiens forward has decided to set the record straight regarding one of the most persistent rumors that has followed him since his time with the Winnipeg Jets.
No, he never spent nearly $40,000 on televisions on the road.
No, he never sent an equipment guy to buy giant screens in every city the team traveled to.
And above all, no, he was not a player completely obsessed with video games to the point of neglecting his commitment to hockey.
The controversy surrounding Patrik Laine and so-called road TV is one of the most enduring and bizarre stories in modern hockey.
This story, which dates back to his time with the Winnipeg Jets, fueled discussion and mockery for years, to the point of becoming almost inseparable from Laine’s public image.
But where did this rumor come from, and how was the astronomical amount of $40,000 calculated?
Patrik Laine’s television history was first mentioned in an episode of the podcast 32 Thoughts Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman.
According to the hosts, Laine, then a player for the Winnipeg Jets, would have had the habit, during the team’s trips, of finding the televisions in the hotel rooms too small for his video game sessions.
The anecdote has it that he asked the equipment attendant or a member of the Jets staff to buy him a larger television for his room.
After each trip, Laine allegedly left these televisions at the hotel, never bringing them back with him.
Jeff Marek had even assumed that someone in the organization — perhaps a staff member — was doing these purchases for him.
Multiplying that amount by the 41 road games played each season by the Jets, some have concluded that Laine would have spent more than $40,000 per year on these screens.
Patrik Laine has had enough of the crazy stories that have been circulating about him for years. Invited to the popular podcast Spittin’ Chiclets, the Montreal Canadiens forward took the opportunity to set the record straight.
Laine did not hide his exasperation while wearing an ironic smile:
“It’s nonsense. People can say whatever they want, that’s okay. »
Laine admits to having spent a lot of time in front of his console, but he insists: it has never been an obsession, much less an obstacle to his career.
When he arrived in Winnipeg at just 18 years old, his English was limited and the prospect of fitting in with a group of battle-hardened veterans intimidated him.
Rather than feeling uncomfortable at team dinners, he preferred to play video games with his friend and teammate Nikolaj Ehlers.
“I didn’t want to go out to eat with the older guys, so we stayed inside and played.
This is no longer the case today. But when I was younger, I was uncomfortable with the idea of going to dinner with the veterans. My thing was hockey. »
This choice, however innocuous, fueled all kinds of far-fetched stories, such as the one according to which he required an oversized television in every hotel room.
Today, Laine looks back on that era and laughs about it. But he still wants to correct these exaggerated stories that stick to him.
“Now, looking back, I encourage the young players on the team to join us. I understand the importance of building connections, but at the time I just did what made me comfortable. »
If these rumors have circulated so much, it is in part because of the harsh criticism of some of his former teammates, notably Mark Scheifele and Zach Werenski, who never hid his annoyance with Laine.
-After his departure from the Blue Jackets, Werenski publicly criticized him, calling him a “selfish” player who only thought about himself. »
Harsh words which added weight to the rumors circulating about his supposed individualistic behavior.
But the reality is quite different. Laine went through extremely difficult times, to the point of wanting to leave hockey for good.
“This reflection had started the previous summer. I told Jarmo (Kekalainen, the former GM of Columbus) a few times:
“It’s over. I won’t come back. I won’t play anymore.” »
Words full of meaning which show that behind the image of the talented player with a lightning shot, there was a man deeply tormented by his inner demons.
“I should have made the decision to quit sooner, in hindsight. I was no longer functional. I was so depressed. »
These revelations showed a more vulnerable side of Laine, far from the image of the carefree and individualistic player that was often attributed to him.
His admission to the NHL assistance program in January 2024 was a turning point in his career and personal life.
“It was the hardest decision I’ve made, to let go of something you love. You sacrificed everything to be here, and you have to leave because of your personal problems. »
Today, Patrik Laine is rebuilding his life in Montreal, far from the gossip and tensions that marked his time in Winnipeg and Columbus.
He understands the importance of his role on a team and knows that hockey is more than a sport: it is a family.
His openness to the media and his desire to correct false perceptions show a more mature player, more aware of the expectations weighing on his shoulders.
But he no longer lets rumors affect him.
“What matters is how you react. People like to create stories. Me, I focus on hockey and leave the rest behind. »
He can assure you of one thing: if he had really spent $40,000 on televisions, he would have at least brought one home with me!
The moral of the story: don’t believe everything you hear
Patrik Laine may be a formidable sniper on the ice, but off it, he is a human being like any other, with his ups and downs, his mistakes and his learnings.
Rumors are part of the daily life of a professional player, but Laine reminds us that it is important not to judge an athlete based on baseless urban legends.
Now he’s focused on the future, ready to silence the doubters in the best way possible: by scoring goals and proving that he’s more than just a screen-addicted gamer.
He refuses to let rumors or criticism define who he is. His time in Montreal is an opportunity to reinvent himself, to prove that he is more than just a sniper, and to show his detractors that he has grown up.
During the podcast, he concluded on a positive note:
“What matters is how you react. I try to see more of the positive. That’s life. Unfortunate things will happen, but it’s up to you how you move forward. »
With honest and straightforward statements, Patrik Laine proves once again that he is ready to turn the page on rumors and focus on what really matters: hockey, his well-being and the team he he proudly represents today.
Laine is clear: he has never wasted thousands of dollars on televisions, but he is ready to invest every day in his future and in his team.
And that’s all that matters.
