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Trouble in the locker room? Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell talks about Patrik Laine

Patrik Laine has been making headlines since it was announced in June that he wants a “fresh start.” There have been bogus transfer proposals, speculation about his trade value and even questions about whether he will change his mind.

Don Waddell was recently a guest on TSN1010 Toronto. The very first question was about Patrik Laine. It seems clear that Laine still wants a trade. Waddell did not shy away from discussing the reality of the situation.

“This is a different situation than any I've dealt with before. I've had players ask for transfers and sometimes you transfer them, sometimes you don't. Of course, I don't know Patrik, I wasn't here last year. He came into the program after 28 games and made it very clear long before I arrived that he didn't want to play for the Blue Jackets. A lot has happened in the locker room and he just doesn't want to.”

“It's different because it's harder to bring him back when you know the situation, but that could be an option. We're in the summer, he's got a high salary cap for two years. I'm talking to teams every day. I've got two or three teams committed at the moment, we'll see where it goes. Ultimately, as I said to Andy Scott, his representative, I can try to do it, but if there's no deal, he'll have to come back here to camp and we'll welcome him back and try to make the best of the situation.”

-Don Waddell

While it is common knowledge that Laine wants to be traded, one thing Waddell revealed raises another question: What happened in the locker room? At the moment, it is unknown what might have happened. No facts or rumors have been reported about this situation.

This is not the first time Laine has requested a transfer with a team. Before joining the Blue Jackets, he had played for the Winnipeg Jets and requested a transfer there. In a January 2021 article, writer Pekka Jalonen of Finnish news site Iltalehti discussed why Laine wanted to leave Winnipeg. Laine had a tough time due to issues with other star players, the two mentioned being Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. Wheeler later admitted, “Maybe I could have communicated a little better instead of being frustrated.”

At the time, Paul Maurice was the Jets' head coach. In an interview, he admitted that he had failed to create a good environment for Laine and took responsibility for the situation.

Last season, former Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent also had an incident with Patrik Laine. After Laine returned from a concussion, he did not play as he used to. This ultimately led to Laine missing one game due to health issues. In an interview, he said:

“This is probably the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me in my career.”

He continued:

“If your confidence isn't there, I don't think you're going to find it by eating popcorn or watching the game. I understand that the guys who leave are playing. I understand that. I'm not stupid. But at the same time, if you want to progress, you have to be out there. I can't gain confidence by drinking BioSteel on the bench. I'm not crying about it because I'm not in a position to complain about anything when I play like that. But that's how I see it.“

Vincent was fired and replaced by Dean Evason, but Laine still wants a trade. In an interview between author Mark Scheig and Don Waddell, the GM said:

“Dean (Evason) spoke to him, a very cordial conversation, but he made it clear that he wanted to make a fresh start somewhere else.”

When asked if he believes Laine will start the season with the Blue Jackets, Waddell replied:

“Well, he's still a Blue Jacket today and as we speak, I don't have anything interesting (new) but also nothing that I have to make a decision on yet. Just some teams are doing their homework and trying to talk to Patrick and his agent and he's thought about giving full permission to talk to the teams. But as we speak (Thursday afternoon, 8/15), I don't have anything on the table that would even make sense for the Blue Jackets to do that deal.”

To sum it all up:

Laine requested a transfer last season before entering the NHLPA Player's Assistance Program.

The Blue Jackets made some big changes by hiring a new GM and head coach. Some people speculated this might change Laine's mind. That didn't happen.

The exact reasons why he wants to be traded are unknown. In an interview, Waddell said: “There's been a lot going on in the locker room and he just doesn't want it.”

Laine's reason for leaving Winnipeg was because of problems with other players. Could there be a similar reason this time?

Waddell sets the price for Laine high. Several offers have been made, but none “that would make any sense for the Blue Jackets to make this deal”

If he is not traded in the offseason, Laine may have to start the season with the Blue Jackets.

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