Patrik Laine has expressed regret over comments he made about the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 23, right before the holiday break, acknowledging that he learned a lesson after facing retaliation on the ice.
Now a member of the Montreal Canadiens after the Habs traded for him last offseason, the winger had openly criticized his former team at the end of last year, saying he was “tired of losing” and implying that some players were “too comfortable” with failure.
Those remarks did not go unnoticed in Columbus, with defenseman Zach Werenski firing back at his former teammate and the Blue Jacks hitting Laine hard when they faced him on Dec. 23, eventually forcing him to leave the game after a hard hit from Dmitry Voronkov.
Looking back, in an interview with Finish outlet Helsingin Sanomat, Laine has admitted he should have stayed quiet.
“I know for a fact that they hit me on purpose,” Laine said in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat. “I should have left the past alone.
The reporters were a bit eager for me to say it, though. I will never say anything negative about any other organization again.
“I learned it the hard way.”
Laine’s trade to Montreal last summer marked another chapter in a career filled with ups and downs. Injuries, mental health struggles, and a stint in the NHL Player Assistance Programhave all shaped his path in recent years.
However, Laine has worked to regain his form and focus, and that’s exactly what he’s done this season appearing in 23 games and scoring 18 points for the Habs.
