Gone, not forgotten

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This article was published 17/03/2024 (569 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

COLUMBUS — There is a large mural of Patrik Laine painted on the side of Nationwide Arena that greets visitors who come to watch the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Unfortunately, that’s the only way to see one of hockey’s brightest stars these days. Laine hasn’t suited up for a game since Dec. 14 and remains under the care of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The talented Finn entered on Jan. 28 with no timetable for a potential return.

Out of sight. But definitely not out of mind, especially for those who care deeply for him, such as former teammate and best buddy Nikolaj Ehlers.

“We spent pretty much every day together back in Winnipeg,” the Jets forward said in an emotional one-on-one chat with the Free Press on Sunday, a few hours before facing Laine’s team — on St. Patrick’s Day, no less.

“Not seeing him play, and knowing how much he loves playing, it sucks.”

Laine, 25, has appeared in just 18 games this season, with six goals and three assists, and nobody knows if or when the 19th contest will happen.

“He’s doing alright,” said Ehlers, who speaks with him regularly.

“The mental health part of it is more important than anything. It’s kind of crazy how that works. Some days you’re completely fine, other days you’re not. I think, for him, it’s just been getting away from the rink and having people to talk to and get back to getting better.”

Laine suffered a broken clavicle the last time he played, but rejoined the Blue Jackets in mid-January for practices and was gearing up for a return. Then came the news that things had taken an unexpected turn.

“I wanted to take a moment to address my need to step away from the game for a while,” Laine wrote in a post on Instagram.

“After careful consideration and discussions with my support network and the team, I have recognized the importance of prioritizing my mental health and well-being. Hockey has been my passion and my life, but I have come to realize that in order to perform at my best, I need to take this time to focus on myself. I am grateful for the understanding and support of my team, the League, and our fans during this time. I look forward to returning to the ice with a clear mind and renewed energy. Thank you for respecting my privacy during this time and for your continued support. With love, Patty.”

Ehlers said one positive from this sad situation is showing people there’s no shame in reaching out for help. A handful of NHL players have entered the assistance program in recent seasons, and conversations about mental health are now more frequent in professional locker rooms.

“Compared to my first year to now, there’s a huge difference in the way players open up about certain things. I think that has really helped guys be able to talk about it.”–Nikolaj Ehlers

“It’s not just easier to talk about, there’s more openness about it,” he said.

“You know, we’re all in here doing the exact same thing every single day. We’re living the same lives. So, we all know what each other is going through. I think compared to my first year to now, there’s a huge difference in the way players open up about certain things. I think that has really helped guys be able to talk about it.”

Laine hasn’t made any public comments, save for calling out members of a Columbus fan podcast who made a horrific suicide joke about him in mid-February. He wrote “this is just not okay” on X (formerly known as Twitter), which prompted an outpouring of support to come his way, including fundraising initiatives for mental health awareness.

Jets fans fell in love with Laine after he was drafted second overall in 2016, scoring 36 goals in his rookie campaign and 44 the following year. Despite all that on-ice success, he was hard on himself, at times publicly disparaging his own play after slumps and clearly wearing emotions on his sleeve.

“I think a lot of that was him being just who he was,” said Ehlers. “He would make fun of himself. I would make fun of him. He would make fun of me. That’s just the way it worked. I believe everyone is pretty hard on themselves in this league. You have to be to stay in this league. But maybe he was a little harder on himself than some guys.”

Laine played the first 306 games of his NHL career with Winnipeg — scoring 140 goals and adding 110 assists — before the massive 2021 trade that sent him and Jack Roslovic to Columbus in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois.

“He was a pretty big player for us in the years he was in Winnipeg, and he knew what he could do. And he showed it as well,” said Ehlers. “When he wasn’t producing the way he wanted to, he wasn’t too happy.”

After signing a four-year, US$34.8 million contract extension in the summer of 2022, Laine has been hampered by health issues the past two years, playing just 73 combined games over the past two seasons (28 goals, 33 assists).

A few weeks before getting hurt, Laine was healthy scratched by coach Pascal Vincent for a game — a move Laine described after as “the most embarrassing that’s happened to me” over his career.

Vincent, a former assistant coach with the Jets and long-time head coach of the Manitoba Moose who is now in his first year as the bench boss of the Blue Jackets, told the Free Press on Sunday the controversial move was all about trying to change the culture in Columbus and was especially difficult given the deep connection he has to Laine as a person.

He said the orgnaization is not allowed to have contact with Laine while he’s in the NHL’s program, meaning the Blue Jackets have no information on the progress he is making or when a return might be in the cards.

Ehlers was adamant his buddy still loves playing the game and wants to return, but noted it’s not that simple.

“(This is) bigger than hockey,” he said. “I sure hope he comes back.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg