“Just a word on the Patrik Laine situation.
I have no trouble reading all sorts of views on the hockey side of this story. Some believe he should get another chance to wear the Canadian uniform, others don’t and it’s totally legit.
Where I have more difficulty is mixing things up with his attitude. I’ve been covering the team on a daily basis since the beginning of the season and, from my perspective, Patrik Laine has, under the circumstances, a completely ok attitude. He is in no way a distraction to his teammates. I can tell you one thing: several players, in a similar situation, would make huge waves. He don’t.
He’s getting his workout in. He is present. He greets his teammates with a smile after the games. He greets me when we run into the press gallery.
In short, he accepts his situation without remorse.
So honestly I don’t know where these rumors or assumptions that he has a bad attitude are coming from. From what I see daily, Patrik Laine has never tried to embarrass his team. On the contrary.
Yesterday again in the locker room he was among the first to congratulate Cole Caulfield.”
– Anthony Martineau