Jeff Marek makes his thoughts on Patrik Laine's dig at ex-Blue Jackets teammates crystal clear

By Evan Bell

Modified Dec 24, 2024 19:18 GMT

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Habs forward Patrik Laine's return to Columbus on Monday was hardly the warm reception that many former players receive when they return to their former team. After nearly four seasons with the franchise, the two sides parted ways heading into this season after Laine, who was part of the NHL/NHLPA's Player Assistance Program, asked for a trade.

The deal came after months of rumors that Laine wanted out of Columbus, however, despite the two sides coming to an agreement to send him to Montreal, it sounds like there's still some bad blood.

Leading up to Monday's game, Laine took a dig at his former Blue Jackets teammates.

“I feel like we were just doing the same thing year after year," Laine said (via Sportsnet). "I was tired of losing and just giving up when it’s December; to start focusing on next year. I’m not going to do that. That’s frustrating as a player when you’re trying to win and some people are, you know, not like that."

During a guest appearance on a special Christmas edition of the Morning Cuppa Hockey show, Jeff Marek weighed in, saying:

"I think they were, I think they were condescending, okay, for sure condescending, biting, maybe. There's some honesty in there too, ... if that's how Laine feels, that's how Laine feels. Columbus doesn't have to agree with it, yeah, that's the way he felt, okay, that's the way he felt, and he moves on.

"You've given that team an issue now, the issue is everybody against Laine."

As Marek pointed out, when Patrik Laine took the ice on Monday, his former teammates were out to get him.

"It's bulls**t" - Zach Werenski takes aim at Patrik Laine after pre-game comments

Patrik Laine's comments about the Blue Jackets organization didn't sit well with his former teammates.

After the game, defenceman Zach Werenski took aim at his former teammate, calling his comments "bulls**t."

“We were nothing to good teammates to him, nothing but good friends to him. For him to bash us like that, I think it’s just unacceptable. I hope he's alright with whatever he's dealing with tonight tonight, but he didn't finish the game," Werenski told reporters.

"Couple hits and I don't know what happened but it's unfortunate. We were nothing but good teammates to him so for him to come in here and say all that, it’s bullshit, Definitely not happy about it and none of us in the room are happy about it and I think that speaks more about him than it does us."

Monday's game wrapped up a three-game season series between the two teams, with Montreal winning two of the three games. In Patrik Laine's case, of course, after a preseason injury, Monday's game was his first time playing the Blue Jackets since the trade.