Pekka Jalonen of the Finnish publication Iltalehti (Evening News) revealed his belief why Patrik Laine wished to leave the Winnipeg Jets. It was because of issues with fellow stars on the team.
When Patrik Laine was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Winnipeg Jets fans were ecstatic. Almost immediately, the then 18-year-old became a fan favorite, as he scored 36 goals in his rookie season. He scored 44 goals in his second season and grew even more popular with the fans.
However, according to the report his relationships with two of the Jets’ other star players were partly to blame for his desire to leave Winnipeg. These players were the team captain and right winger, Blake Wheeler, and the team’s number one center, Mark Scheifele.
According to inside information that ltalehti staffers gathered, Wheeler felt his position as the team’s top right winger was threatened by Laine, whose original position was right wing. He was also not enthusiastic that Laine’s popularity could possibly rival that of Teemu Selanne, who had played with the previous incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets.
Meanwhile, Scheifele made it clear to everyone that he preferred to play with Wheeler than with Laine.
According to the report, outside the locker room, both Wheeler and Scheifele would make things difficult for Laine and talk behind his back. Coach Paul Maurice would not interfere and just let Wheeler and Scheifele lead the team the way they wanted. Thus, the situation in Winnipeg was difficult for Laine.
After the trade took place on Saturday, January 23, Wheeler partially admitted that he had handled some things poorly with Laine. “Maybe I could have communicated a little better instead of being frustrated.” Wheeler, of course, didn’t detail what exactly happened behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Scheifele remained silent. When the Jets faced the Ottawa Senators later that night, Scheifele, in a interview, did not mention either Laine or his departure from the team.
Jets’ Head Coach, Paul Maurice, however, admitted making mistakes with Laine. He stated he tried to create an environment for each player where they could feel they could be at their best. But in the case of Laine, Maurice admitted his failure and took full responsibility for it.
During the summer prior to the 2019-20 season, Laine had signed a two-year contract extension. At the end of the deal, he would be a restricted free agent. Laine was hoping he would leave Winnipeg at the end of that deal, if not sooner.
Now that he has been traded, the Blue Jackets are trying to work out a new contract extension with him. The Blue Jackets’ General Manager, Jarmo Kekalainen, has had a previous relationship with Laine from a Finnish World Championship team.
Jalonen, the reporter from Iltalehti, noticed how the Jets have lost so many players in recent years, including Evander Kane, Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien, Jack Roslovic and Patrik Laine, all of whom wanted out of Winnipeg. He pointed out that Byfuglien even ended his career in the middle of the contract period. Hence, Jalonen wonders if “there is something rotten in the club led by GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and in the locker room led by Wheeler.”
The original interview with Iltalehti can be found here. Laine also gave an emotional farewell to the Jets which is also covered by Iltalehti and covered here.
By Diane Doyle
Every team has it’s “click’s” no matter what level of hockey,but what makes it worse @ NHL level is it’s usually longest serving & highest paid!(aka Ovie & Backie for example) if you ever have a coach or GM come in & say “we need either “culture or team first mentality ” it’s usually code for i’am getting ride of older guys that are problem in the room. + this happens in regular world to it’s just not as published… Ha ha
Agree, Scott. They are people. There will always be these types of differences.
It is now April 7 ,Laine is a -12 and Dubois has the same amount of points as Laine.Jets are in 2nd place,Blue Jackets falling fast.I think Chevy fixed this problem.im
It is now June 10 and the Jets have been swept by Montreal while Dubois was invisible, apart from a crosscheck. Don’t think Chevy fixed anything.
It is now December 29th. PLD is arguably our best player next to Kyle Conner. Jet’s fans are happy as can be with PLD. Now if the rest of the team can pick up the slack we should be able to start moving back up in the standings. As for Laine, I do miss his shot and precision passes but to be honest he was a lazy player amongst elite hard working off season players like Scheifele and Wheeler. I could easily understand their frustration with him. They probably knew how great he could be but were pissed as he was blowing the opportunity with his lack of off season effort.
It’s now July 18 and PLD, like many other stars, is planning his escape from Winnipeg. The team is in shambles and another pitiful rebuild is near. Time to relocate out of the Peg, yet again.
It’s now 2023, Laine is not even close to being a point a game player. He’s a career -51. He helped a team sink to bottom feeders. Even with the addition of Johnny hockey the team is fighting for last place. Yeah, he really helped. Bottom line, Laine doesn’t mind losing. He’s good with that. Money is coming in and the ice cream is going down good. Laine “yeah I’m a bit fat, and I like to eat a lot of ice cream”. “And I don’t pay a lot of attention to where my team is in the standings, It’s a distraction, I just be me”.
Interestingly, there had been reports out of Winnipeg last season that Laine was the problem. They said he felt jealous of Wheeler playing with Scheiffle & thought that he should be on the top line. Maybe there’s a bit of truth in both stories.
Laine was lazy
It certainly could be the case. Probably a bit of both sides the real issue.
Poor “millionaire ” baby
Pure garbage sensationalist hit piece. No quotes you’ll notice from the supposed source of all of this information
Said the jilted Jets fan 😂
Jets fans acting their girlfriend dumped them 😂
Jets fans are spontaneously combusting. Truth hurts don’t it 😂
liane was jealous of Wheeler and Scheifele that is the true he want to be number 1 and wanted to play with either or Wheeler and Scheifele or both self ness I would say
I disagree, I think there is something to it. 4 notable players and a young guy with potential all wanted out. You don’t see that from successful contending teams, only crap ones or dysfunctional ones.
Look at why those players left or wanted out. Trouba went somewhere that was good for his fiancee’s career. Kane wanted to go somewhere that was good for his “brand” and we see how that has worked out for him. Buff is 35 and pretty much missed all of last season recovering from an injury and isn’t playing this year either. Roslovic couldn’t crack the lineup and wanted a change of scenery. Laine couldn’t unseat the top line wingers and wasn’t happy with his usage because of it.
Absolutely right on
Spot on
The guy that wrote this article is a huge Laine fan boy. Kane pisses off every team he’s with, Byfuglin retired from injury, Trouba wanted to play in the US cause his wife is a doctor certified in America. Guy made up a story without real sources. And no, I’m not a Jets fan on a caps website, Pekka Jalonen wrote an article a year ago about how much Wheeler loved Laine’s attitude. He is a Finnish writer that wants every piece to paint Finnish players in the best light.
lol you are 2 watt 🤣
You are delta Bravo.
Sounds like they all need to grow up.a little
Shame on Wheeler. .Jets will fall back again .
Really shame on wheeler, Laine is a baby and wanted to be on the top line. You know who out workednhom was Connor. Thankngod he’s gone.
Wheeler is done! He’s back to falling down again and losing the puck. Time for Maurice to go too. He’s in bed with wheeler and sheifele. Can’t see the talent past them. Wheeler is too tired for power plays or three on three. I’m not sad that Laine is gone either. There’s two sides to every story. Probably was treated bad and he’s got a pretty big ego so not getting what he wants is a hard pill to swallow. By the way Wheeler’s ego could very well be a match for Laine’s .
Jets just took 5 of 6 points from division leading Leafs and are 2 points out of first place with games in hand and Mauric should Go? Pointless ignorant blather.
I view the situation that. Laine only worked hard when he wanted to He seemed a little like mommies baby , poor Baby
agreed! totally well said
Laine has huge talent that comes with a even bigger ego. Right from his draft year, he spoke out that he should have been the first overall pick in the draft over Mathews. Complained that he needs better players to play with, rather than speaking with his stick. He is an elite player that seems to have long scoring droughts, yet believes that he is a number one guy. He’s a very good player that needs a few more years to mature.
Well boo-fricking -hoo. We’ll see how you like the “rude treatment in the locker room” with Tortorella as your coach. Plus you were in a hockey town that loved you now you’re in a place that hardly knows what hockey is. Good luck.
The Finnish reporter’s take isn’t really worth transmitting further. To suggest that Wheeler would somehow have an issue with Laine becoming more popular than Selanne… Wheeler wasn’t around during Jets 1.0 and I can’t imagine him feeling Selanne had a legacy being threatened and that Wheeler would take that personally . A shit take.
Also, the Jets wanted Kane out more than Kane wanted out. Trouba’s spouse wanted to study medicine in an American city, that’s why he left. Buff just didn’t have the drive to play anymore, nothing to do with the team or city. Roslovic wanted out because he was a;ways going to have troubles getting more than 3-4 line minutes in Winnipeg and the coach acknowledged this.
There probably were dressing room issues with Laine but this article is mostly repeating the “beliefs” of somebody who seems to be given an audience because he is from Finland and not because his views are at all informed or considered.
Bit of a rant sorry but just an annoying piece.
Agree!
Laine will be filling the net long after Wheeler is retired…
It’s not shear crap both Wheeler and Scheifele are d-bags!
Laine a top young goal scorer wanted to play 1st line minutes and get paid for being one of the top young snipers in the game. Both rather reasonable requests. Ehlers is his best friend, what’s better than playing with your best friend? That’s how bad Laine wanted out… Both Wheeler and Scheifele have bad local reps. I have no trouble believing any of this, makes total sense!
In the end Wheeler is just another selfish American, ala Buff, won’t win with Wheeler as your captain…
I always say where there’s smoke there’s fire… Not a stretch, totally believable!
Scheifele has been pouting about the deal he signed 6 months after he signed it, and on most accounts has had a bad attitude since. He’ll be gone when he’s up.
Need GM that’s been in the big leagues think this one has already let go key players
I love mr anonymous calling out Jets fans. Laine wanted to be the top right winger but didn’t do the work to deserve that opportunity. Instead, he got huge power play minutes and played with other top six forwards. Both Maurice and Wheeler commented that they could have handled the situation, taking responsibility for their actions. Professionals.
Laine, disgruntled, instead had to blame the situation on others. He wasn’t happy, then it was his decision to ask to leave, maybe we, Winnipeg weren’t a good fit for him?
Hopefully he enjoys Torts and Columbus.
Wouldn’t this b called Bullying ! Wheeler & Schiefele how to b Professional’s . How would u feel it was ur child ! And how would u feel has a Parent ! Hockey Lives Matter !
Idiot,try looking into things before you open youre two bit mouth.Captians of hockey teams will ask players to step up their game from time to time,Laine plays no defense and they asked him to play def…oooh boo hooo bullying you whinning lil monkey,learn somethng before you go all woke on us.Dipshit.
That’s because Laine plays a lazy game
It is easy for someone, including Jalonen, the Finnish writer who had talked to Laine to wonder if there’s a problem with the atmosphere in the locker room since a lot of people left the team or wanted out. Although Byfuglien seemed to have left due to injury. Trouba, an American, left for his wife’s medical school but I know it’s not uncommon for many Americans who want to leave a Canadian team due to the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar vs the American dollar. (That includes two former Capitals who had started off with Canadian teams and then became Capitals; i.e. Rod Langway and Dave Christian.) But figure there might well be a problem in the locker room. Whatever the reason, management should still be concerned if there is too much turnover in general. Maybe Laine hasn’t handled the situation with the greatest maturity. (I don’t know enough about the character of Laine, Wheeler, or Schiefele to know who’s right and who’s wrong. There’s probably fault on both sides.) Maurice seems to be a more laissez faire coach so the player centered leadership has more power. (Confess to not being familiar enough with Jalonen,, the original Finnish writer, to know if he is a Laine fanboy or not.)
All players , including the Canadian teams get paid in U.S. funds.
Yup thats not far off. How’s Laine feel about Columbus? Looks like another troubled organization. Or is it the player?
Laine has a great shot. But that’s not enough.
Lazy Laine has become the Finnish Fizzle.
Cater to Wheeler over Laine is a bonehead play, Laine will be filling the net long after Wheeler is gone. He’s another spolled entitled American who sees the writing on the wall. Poor leader. Ran Lainre out of town. Epic fail on Jets part to retain a young budding superstar in favor of an aging vet on the hole 16 of his career. It’s well known in Wpg Wheeler’s not cared for in the room.
Go habs!!!
Thanks Anomyous…who are you to talk? If you believe this all, you would be better off playing Mine Craft with Whine-eh!
the jets got the better player in Dubois and are a better team without laine,. .He was only the 5th or 6th best player on the jets. He wanted first line minutes and wasn’t good enough but whined about it to the press. One dimensional player that only gets his goals on the power play.
I think the real problem started when Laine expected a hefty increase long term contract and the Jets weren’t ready to sign him to a long term deal for the kind of money he and his agents were looking for. Laine has improved from his rookie year but I think they were still not sure he is 10 mil a year status. A third year slump and last year 28 goals , they were not sure what they have , because of no long term deal Laine and his agents want out of winnipeg. The idea there were problems in the dressing room is just speculation .
Jets defencemen Neil Pionk recently completed a university degree. Took him six year to do it, but he promised his mother that even though he turned pro he would still get his degree. Paul Maurice, who is prone to make witty comments said it best: ” Some players study and get their degree on their free time; others play video games”. Laine of course loves video games.
Laine needs to grow up….and learn to skate! I think he will never be comparable to the Finnish Flash! Especially off the ice. Jers fans are glad he is gone and ecstatic to have Dubois instead..who is not a 1 trick pony, and can skate…and well!
NEWS FLASH!! Liane officially becomes..”Leanne”, and trips over his purse strings at Centre ice during practice today…out indefinitely with an undisclosed upper body injury…this should help him weather his battered image…Look I am injured now um-kay! I can now only play Mine Craft.
What a load of crap! Laine was a defensive liability who didn’t deserve to be on the Jets top line, Instead of being a good teammate and earning his way onto the top line he whined in public about what he thought he deserved. The Jets are missing his shot, but are a better team now that they don’t have his cry-baby distractions in the dressing room. Too bad he didn’t approach things the right way…..he really may have turned out to be the power forward we all hoped he’d become.
Laine has the potential to be a superstar, but not in winnipeg, Wheeler needs
To retire and quickly. His time is up ,and anyone that thinks this franchise is ever going to win anything is sadly mistaken. Winnipegers are too busy worrying about what once was. Jets 1.0 are no longer, avco cup days are llong gone. But yet people bring up tnose things instead of wanting to win or a desire to be better. That is the problem no one in loserpeg knows what winning is because nothing positive or good happens. As to the franchise itself, it sucks because of the lamos running it. It is more important to focus on never was and never will bes like eric comrie, rather then spending the money on players that are winners. Keep patting the dicks of wheeler a guy who is done and has been for years but pass over elite guys or trade for lame ducks and ssy it is time to rebuild for tbe 28th time. Can no one see they dont care? Cant just admit and accept they like losing obviously. It wont be long until chipman tbe fraud moves the team. Chipman is like sam katz, when the fun is over it goes away. Winnipeg is a one horse town and tbat us why no one wants to play there. Fans flocking to tbe mts centre are more focused on eating and beer drinking than winning. They dont care. Maybe blake big wheel wheeler should think about acti g lime a captain should rather than having hissy fits and tbrowing pucks on the stands. Paul maurice and company need to be gone and a proper coaching staff brought in. But tnat wont happen because that means change and possible winning. Winnipeg doesnt want either. Same old same old attitude. Look its 9pm on a saturday night tbe city is closing time for bed.
🤣🤣🤣
You are a complete idiot,that is all.TY
You are a totally idiot,and have no hockey knowledge.Just go watch cats.
All the pro Laine comments here made in January sure look funny now: “Laine will be filling the net long after Wheeler is gone”……haha! Laine is a minus 12 right now, with just one goal in over a month of play. Instead of whining about who his linemates are, he should become a team-first player.
Was this article written by a finnish guy? he seems pretty one sided and blind.
First off Laine doesnt play defense and is a floater.Wheels and Shiefs called him out about it and he through a kid fit and cried.He wants to play on the top line but is a liability to the team with his no effort shifts and cherry picking for the puck.Plays zero defense and wonders why he is not on the top line? No effort.And he is continuing it with CLB.
Laine might be good for a two bit finnish leauge but this is the NHL the best hockey in the world plays here.So take his whinning ass back to finland and enjoy his one trick pony style of hockey.
Wheels and Schiefs were only trying to help him get better,but he didnt want to hear none of it,Entitled immigrant at its best.
threw Brian Little under the bus–then apologized to make it look good–Patrik Whine A–glad he`s gone–ywah he`s doing wonders elsewhere pfft
Another trade deadline goes by with another lame trade. Chevedayoff is the modern day mike smith. Jets are too worried about blake wheeler and when he will be back. Who frigging cares we do not need him nc they are playing better without captain tyrant. If this season wss a normal one winnipeg would be in the toilet. Gee when are tbe jets leaving again? Im sure mr opertunist chipman is looking to make a deal somewhere, and if this is the way tjings are going to be then may as well head out.
to hell with Wheeler I can’t stand him anyway.Hopefully he stays out.
Laine developed a huge ego growing up and got acclaim for a great shot. Unfortunately he didn’t develop any other necessary hockey skills.
He thought it was enough to make him the number 1 draft and expected to be worshiped cuz of goal scoring. He expected the rest of jet players to get the puck and feed him great passes he could onetime. But he was useless if he had to handle the pack and was constantly turning the puck over whenever someone checked him
His goals scored didn’t come close to making up for other teams goals that were his fault with no puck handling skills nor any ability to back check. Yes team mates pushed him to put some effort into improving his overall skills and that offended his ego so he brooded and decided the only problem was coach was committed to him being too player who always played with teams best players.
The other players on team got real fed up with his childish behaviours and his constant mistakes and errors on the ice