The Columbus Blue Jackets heard Patrik Laine's comments.
Loud and clear.
In the moments after Columbus' 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, Zach Werenski pulled no punches in discussing comments made from Laine earlier in the day to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.
Laine played in 18 games for the Blue Jackets last season, his fourth season with the organization. He missed time first with an injury and then entered the NHLPA's player assistance program in January. It would be the end of his career in Columbus, as the team traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in August for defenseman Jordan Harris.
Laine had requested the trade.
Here's what he told reporters earlier Monday:
"I feel like we were just doing the same thing year after year. I was tired of losing and just giving up when it's December to start focusing on the 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. They're a little too satisfied and too comfortable where they're at. It wasn't really a fit for me anymore."
When asked to clarify who he was referring to, Laine said he would leave to "everybody's imagination."
"There were certainly people like that who were a little too comfortable and fine with losing and just doing the same thing year after year," said Laine.
When asked (by Portzline) if he heard the comments made by Laine earlier in the day, Werenski said he did.
"It's unfortunate. As guys in here, and as a guy who has been here, we were nothing but good teammates to him. Nothing but good friends to him. For him to bash us like that, I think it's just unacceptable," said Werenski.
Laine was booed heavily throughout the first period and was the subject of several big hits from the Blue Jackets. He did not return for the final forty minutes with what the team was calling an upper-body injury.
During the first intermission, Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier was asked by TSN's (and former Blue Jackets goalie) Marc Denis if the teams targeting of Laine was in relation to his comments.
"No comment," said Olivier.
"I hope he's alright with whatever he's dealing with tonight — but he didn't finish the game. A couple of hits and...," Werenski trailed off.
#CBJ defenseman Zach Werenski did not hold back when asked about Laines comments earlier in the day:
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 24, 2024
Its unfortunate For him to bash us like that, I think its just unacceptable.
We were nothing but good teammates to him. For him to come in and say that is bullshit.
Werenski then continued, adding that the rest of the players didn't take kindly to the comments either.
"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," said Werenski.
"That speaks more about him than it does us."
After confirming that Laine's words provided motivation for the Blue Jackets, Werenski put his thoughts on the situation to bed.
"What's he thinking saying that? It's just incredible. I've got no more time for that. I don't want to talk about Patty anymore," ended Werenski, before calling his comments "ridiculous" one more time.
In 174 games with the Blue Jackets over four seasons, Laine scored 64 goals and added 74 assists for a total of 138 points.
