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5 key takeaways from Patrik Laine & Kent Hughes interviews after Habs-Blue Jackets trade
The massive trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets involving Patrik Laine has sent shockwaves throughout the NHL. But as the dust settles, reactions across the league begin to take shape.
Initial comments from Patrik Laine and Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes have helped fans and analysts begin to sort out the ramifications of this substantial trade.
That being said, here is a look at the five key takeaways from Patrik Laine and Kent Hughes's interviews following Monday’s trade, as reported by NHL.com.
5 takeaways from Patrik Laine and Kent Hughes's interviews
#5: Laine wants to return to form
Thus far, Laine has shown the right attitude. In his initial reactions, Laine said:
“I don’t want to come back as a 30-goal-scorer. I want to come back as a 40, 50- (goal-scorer). I’ve done that previously and it's not by accident.”
Indeed, his performance has not been a fluke. Laine’s top-tier talent has made him one of the league’s top goal-scorers. The Montreal Canadiens are banking on Laine returning to form, allowing him to regain his place among the NHL’s most dangerous forwards.
#4: Laine wants to win
While Laine has stated his desire to return to his previous high-level production, he’s also aware that his role on the Montreal Canadiens could shift with time.
Laine stated the following regarding his role on the Habs:
“I want to come in and do whatever it takes to contribute to the team and help the team win, whether it’s me scoring 50 or scoring 20, as long as the team wins. I’m getting to that age, I’m not 19 years old anymore. I just want to win.”
Considering that the Habs are still a rebuilding team, today’s trade brings the club one step closer to the playoff picture. Perhaps a healthy and productive Patrik Laine could be enough to help the team return to the postseason conversation.
#3: Laine has learned plenty about himself and certain situations
Laine addressed his sting on the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, stating the following:
“I have learned things about myself, how to handle certain situations.”
He added:
“Now it’s how to navigate through it. It’s a is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty kind of thing and looking at things in a more positive perspective these days. Navigating through tough times is what I’ve learned. I feel I’m in a really, really good place and couldn’t be (more) excited with the news today.”
The Montreal Canadiens hope the learning experience allows Patrik Laine to turn over a new leaf and become a better version of himself as a player and person.
#2: The Canadiens expect Laine to contribute every way he can
Montreal GM Kent Hughes had this to say about the team’s expectations for Laine:
“Whether you score 20 goals or 40 goals, your success here is not going to be defined strictly by goals. It’s going to be defined by your ability to help contribute to this team and help us.”
Patrik Laine’s role at this stage in his career goes beyond scoring goals. As an experienced player among the team’s younger members, Laine will be expected to produce offensively and play a key role in helping the Habs win games.
That role may entail making a more significant impact defensively while supporting the Habs’ current stars like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
#1: The Habs expect Laine to be a role model
Despite being 26, Laine is now one of the oldest players on the Montreal roster. That situation leads the Canadiens to expect Laine to play a mentorship role for some of the team’s younger players. Here’s what Hughes had to say on the matter:
“We’re very young, and he may be young at 26, but that still makes him an older statesman on the Montreal Canadiens. And we’re hoping that as such he’ll do his part to help and teach our young players.”
Ultimately, Patrik Laine’s role in Montreal has drastically shifted from the one he played in Columbus. While the club expects Laine to regain his former goal-scoring form, the team also hopes that Laine can become a positive influence on younger players as the Habs look to emerge from their rebuild.
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