By Joe Coopersmith
Multiple reports have surfaed all over social media, radio, TV that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine has been released from the NHL Player Assistance Program. He entered the program in January of this past season.
It was only 4 years ago that Laine was traded to Columbus from the Winnipeg Jets and said how glad he was to be with the Blue Jackets and wanted to be the solution to the problem and help produce a winning team.
Rumors about Laine and a possible trade destination haven’t stopped since it went public that he wanted to get out of Columbus. No one really knows why he wants out. But it could be that the Jackets have had 4 years of losing, on their fifth head coach and have not played in the playoffs.
While the 26-year-old was in the Assistance Program, he could not interact with no one, that included the Blue Jackets, Media, Teammates, Friends, Ownership. Probably, only his agent, Andy Scott.
Laine did tell the Jackets what teams he would accept a trade to.
Since he was in the Assistance Program, the Jackets have named a new general manager in Don Waddell and a new head coach in Dean Evason. Maybe those two can persuade him to give the new regime a chance and stay in Columbus. After all, it has been and is going to be tough for the Jackets to dump his contract on potential teams.
The talented Finnish winger has two years left on a contract that has an $8.7 million salary cap hit. Laine signed that deal in the summer of 2022 with Columbus, a total value of $34.8 million over four seasons.
First reports of Laine being released were by two of the best and most reputable reporters around the NHL, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic and Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch.
