After almost a year of difficulties on and off the ice, Patrik Laine awaits a clean slate.
Laine was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday in addition to a second-round choice in the 2026 NHL draft in a manage the Columbus Blue Jackets for defencemanJordan Harris The relocation follows he damaged his clavicle last December and afterwards invested 6 months in the organization’s gamer aid program to resolve his psychological health and wellness concerns.
“When you’re not enjoying whatever you do, you’re probably not going to be able to perform, and that’s where I’ve been at,” claimed Laine in a video clip phone call with media fromFlorida “I haven’t been enjoying myself for a while, but now I’m happier than ever, off the ice, obviously.
“I’ve done a great deal of deal with myself to to obtain me back to this factor where I’m really incredibly delighted regarding having fun, in a brand-new area, with brand-new colleagues, in a brand-new city.”
Laine broke his clavicle on Dec. 14, then had an undisclosed setback delaying his recovery from the injury on Jan. 27. He entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program the next day, saying on social media he wanted to prioritize his mental health, and was cleared to return on July 26.
“I’ve discovered a great deal of great deal of points over these last pair years, and currently is an actually great time to place them to the examination,” he said. “I’m definitely readier than ever before.”
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said his organization had done a thorough look into Laine’s health and off-ice issues. Hughes added that Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell and Laine were open with Montreal’s front office about everything and he appreciated their candour.
“We left from that discussion really completely satisfied. We did a great deal of various other research,” said Hughes. ” I do not intend to get involved in a great deal of information regarding that, out of regard for Patrik and those individuals that we talked with, yet Patrik and Don were additionally thoughtful sufficient to allow us speak with and speak with on the clinical documents and simply have the discussions that we felt we required to need to fit progressing.”
Laine had six goals and three assists in 18 games with Columbus last season before his injury and the mental health leave. The six-foot-five, 215-pound winger has appeared in 480 regular-season games over eight NHL seasons with the Winnipeg Jets and the Blue Jackets, scoring 204 goals and adding 184 assists.
“Still definitely tearing the puck, so no concerns there,” said Laine, who was recently cleared to skate. “Overall body really feels excellent. Still, clearly, obtained a month till camp. Lots of time to make some changes.
Laine, from Tampere, Finland, was composed 2nd general by the Jets in 2016. He assisted Finland win the globe junior champion in Helsinki that year with 7 objectives and 6 aids in 7 video games, along with being called to the competition’s dream team.
He claimed he aspired to adhere to in the steps of Finnish hockey tale Saku Koivu, that was the Canadiens captain for ten years.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do as good as he did, but I’m going to try my best to be as good as he was in Montreal,” claimed Laine.
Laine authorized a four-year, $34.8 million United States agreement expansion with the Blue Jackets on July 22, 2022. Although Laine exceeds captain Nick Suzuki as Montreal’s highest-paid gamer, Hughes claimed that with 2 years staying on the offer it would not have a substantial effect on the Canadiens’ income cap.
“There’s so many things that go into a salary structure, whether it’s negotiated by us or a contract that was acquired,” claimed Hughes, keeping in mind that Laine did not need to forgo his no-trade stipulation on the swap.
The 24-year-old Harris had 3 objectives, 11 aids and was a minus-5 plus/minus over 56 video games with Montreal last period. Harris has 8 objectives and 23 aids in 131 video games over 3 periods with the Habs.
