One-of-a-kind Laine says season so far is a bad joke

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/12/2022 (754 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He’s got a shiny new contract and a spiffy new haircut since the last time we saw him around these parts.Those differences aside, it’s nice to know some things will never change when it comes to Patrik Laine.

His trademark dry humour, for one, which was on full display as he spoke on Friday prior to his Columbus Blue Jackets taking on the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre.

A sample platter of sarcasm and wit:

What’s it like to make your second visit back to Winnipeg following that blockbuster January 2021 trade?

“It’s a little too cold for my taste right now. I’m not used to it anymore,” said Laine, who certainly wasn’t helping the cause by having his head shaved right down to the wood.

“Getting older,” was his explanation of fighting a naturally receding hairline. “Doesn’t look too bad. But I’m actually freezing with this haircut. I need a hat on.”

How about the comfort of that four-year, US$34.8 million extension (US$8.7 million per season) signed prior to the start of the season?

“At least I don’t have to answer those stupid questions for the next couple years, so that’s kind of off the table now,” he told me. Ouch!

What about the current state of your former club, which entered play Friday night with the best winning percentage in the Central Division at 14-6-1.

“I have no clue. I haven’t paid attention. No idea,” Laine claimed. “Hopefully they won’t do well tonight.”

It was vintage Laine, a guy who definitely marches to his own beat and blazes his own trail. In addition to his bank account and his appearance, I also sensed one other significant difference from the 24-year-old Finnish winger since he made his much-hyped return to River City last March: His joy level seems to be running quite low right now.

It’s hard to blame him. The Blue Jackets limped into town with a 7-12-2 record, battered by poor play and an injury bug that has bitten them early and often. Laine himself has already had two prolonged stints on the sidelines, missing 13 of the first 21 games. Friday’s game was his first since suffering a sprained ankle on Nov. 12.

After being a point-per-game player for the first time in his career last season — 26 goals and 30 assists in 56 contests — this was supposed to be Laine’s huge breakout season. With the distraction of ongoing contract talks removed and the arrival of Johnny Gaudreau to be his personal set-up man, the sky seemed to be the limit for both player and team.

It hasn’t worked out that way at all. While Laine is now back, the prognosis remains grim. The club’s franchise defenceman, Zach Werenski, is out for the season following shoulder surgery. Jakub Voracek, who found major chemistry with Laine last year, is out indefinitely with a concussion.

There’s been a constant parade of new faces being called up from the farm to fill the many holes. It’s been a mess.

“It’s been kind of funny how many injuries we have. Feel like every game there’s one or two. Just looks like it’s straight out of a comedy show. But nobody’s laughing. At least we’re not laughing,” said Laine.

“It’s definitely frustrating for me. But like I’ve said before, crying about it is not going to help.”

No, it won’t. It’s safe to say things haven’t exactly gone according to plan since he switched hockey homes. And Laine actually has plenty of company in that regard when it comes to recent former Jets.

All he has to do is look across his room, where Jack Roslovic had just one goal (and five assists) in his first 18 games this year. Roslovic, who was packaged with Laine in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois, has been given every opportunity to play the kind of elevated role he felt he’d been denied here in Winnipeg.

He’s done absolutely nothing with it. To the point he was recently a healthy scratch, which sure says something when your roster is being held together with Band-Aids.

How about Andrew Copp, who felt he’d hit a similar glass ceiling with the Jets, having just two goals (and 11 assists) in 22 games with his hometown Detroit Red Wings after signing a huge free-agent deal with them last summer.

Or Paul Stastny, who opted for what he felt was a better opportunity in Carolina and has yet to score in 23 games (he has five assists) while also being healthy scratched for one recent contest.

Or Eric Comrie, who had a breakthrough year as Winnipeg’s backup last season, then shuffled off to Buffalo where he’s posted an ugly 4-7-0 record with a bloated 3.62 goals-against-average and .887 save-percentage.

Sometimes the grass really isn’t greener on the other side.

Last, but certainly not least, is a guy we’re going to see make his long-awaited return next Tuesday in Paul Maurice. The Florida Panthers, who captured the Presidents Trophy as top regular-season team but didn’t retain interim coach Andrew Brunette after losing in the first round of the playoffs to Tampa Bay, are an ugly 11-9-4 and below the playoff line.

Meanwhile, the team Maurice pulled the plug on is cruising along, and with arguably a less talented roster on paper than the one he had. (Copp and Stastny were both on the team, don’t forget). And Dubois, with 10 goals and 10 assists through his first 21 games, is on track to smash his career offensive bests.

“It’s funny. I looked at the roster from last game and either I feel old or a lot of changes in their team,” Dubois said Friday. “A lot of changes. I don’t personally know a lot of the guys, but fun to see the ones I do know.”

Dubois will have a major decision to make within the next couple years about his future. He’s a restricted free agent next summer, and will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024.

Given how well things are going for him and his team right now — and the struggles being experienced by several former Jets — a change of scenery might not be for the best.

There’s still plenty of time for Laine to turn things around, and the merits of that fascinating trade will still be discussed and debated for years to come.

“I’ve just got to work myself back. I’m happy to be playing (Friday night) and just get back to rhythm and hopefully have a good rest of the season,” he said.

Friday was a solid step in that direction. He opened the scoring against the Jets, a wicked wrister that found a sliver of space between the crossbar and goaltender David Rittich. Where once the Canada Life Centre crowd would have roared, this tally was greeted with a smattering of boos.

Laine sniped again in the second period, finishing off a terrific three-way play with Gaudreau and Boone Jenner and making it look oh so easy. Just like that, he’d doubled his goal total from two to four, and you could see the confidence quickly returning for the notoriously streaky winger.

One thing is indisputable: Laine is one-of-a-kind, and Winnipeg was lucky to have him. The second-overall pick from 2016 clearly still holds a fond place in the hearts of many fans, and for good reason. His time here was short, but sweet.

Contract talks are now a thing of the past. And the hair may be gone for good. But here’s hoping better days for one of the game’s unique talents and personalities make a speedy return.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg