Patrik Laine of the Columbus Blue Jackets has had a very interesting career. He was traded there from the Winnipeg Jets who originally selected him with the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. Laine is a sniper who has a great ability to make plays as well.
Early in Laine’s career, he was an incredible goalscorer. In 2016-17, he came in second place for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie thanks to his 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points in 74 games.
His sophomore season (2017-18) was even better as he had 44 goals and 26 assists for 70 points in 82 games played. One year later (2018-19), he scored 30 goals and that was the last time he reached that milestone.
He did have 28 in 2019-20 in 68 games played so he probably would have passed the 30 mark again if it weren’t for COVID-19 ending that season early.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a very interesting player in Patrik Laine
From that point on, things changed for him. He always remained a good second-line type sniper but he never became that superstar that it looked like he was going to be. He went from Winnipeg to Columbus during the 2020-21 season.
Pierre-Luc Dubois (who was selected third overall right behind Laine in 2016) went back to Winnipeg in the deal. It was a blockbuster trade involving two players who desperately needed a change of scenery.
Last season, Laine had a good year as he had 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 55 games played. He finally looked to be clicking again despite missing some games due to injury.
Things haven’t been great for him this season though as he only has two goals and an assist for three points in 9 games played. Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets made him a healthy scratch on Sunday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Patrik Laine will be a health scratch for #CBJ in Philadelphia tonight. Adam Boqvist goes in as the Jackets go 11/7. Spencer Martin in net.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) November 19, 2023
Columbus and Philly starting momentarily. Patrik Laine is a healthy scratch. Reasoning here: https://t.co/2pY2FW7CCt
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 19, 2023
The explanation for this scratch is kind of strange. It would make sense to think that playing in games would be the best way for Laine to get his top-notch game back.
You can infer that he isn’t lacking production for a lack of effort according to the coach’s statement there so letting him play might help him break out of it. This could also end up looking like a genius move if Laine starts to score again when he returns.
This is a bold move by the Blue Jackets. Things haven’t gone well for them lately but they are looking for changes. They have some young studs in the lineup right now but things aren’t looking great right now in terms of winning.
The game was played and the Blue Jackets were smoked on the road by the Flyers by a final score of 5-2. One has to imagine that this was the only game in which Laine was scratched but we’ll see.
Columbus’s next game will be on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks so that is Laine’s next chance to get into the lineup. He will certainly be working extra hard in practice this week.