Patrik Laine says his hands shook when he learned about the Johnny Gaudreau signing
It's a new era for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Once thought of as a club that star players couldn't wait to get away from, the team landed the hottest free agent on the market in Johnny Gaudreau, as well as locking up sniper Patrik Laine to a new four-year deal. Laine met with reporters to discuss his new contract, and said he could barely contain himself when he heard about the Gaudreau signing.
"Patrik Laine says he told Brad Larsen and Jarmo Kekalainen after they signed Johnny Gaudreau that he doesn't think he's ever been this excited to play hockey, with the thought of playing with Gaudreau."
"He says his hands were shaking as he scrolled through his phone, looking at all the messages from everyone and how excited he was." - Bailey Johnson, Columbus Dispatch
"He says his hands were shaking as he scrolled through his phone, looking at all the messages from everyone and how excited he was." - Bailey Johnson, Columbus Dispatch
As for players that have chosen to leave in the past, Laine said he doesn't understand it.
"Personally, I don't get it, why big names have left before. For me, that was never in my head that I wanted to go somewhere else. There's no place I would rather play in this league," he told reporters.
Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, signing Laine and Gaudreau meant the team was over the cap and someone had to go. That meant trading Oliver Bjorkstrand, who had a career year across the board last season, to the Seattle Kraken for a third-round pick. Not the best return, but something had to be done.
Laine and Gaudreau should pack a powerful punch for the Blue Jackets moving forward. 2022-23 should be an exciting time for Blue Jackets fans.
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
|
YESTERDAY
MAY 16, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Tage Thompson | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jack Quinn | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Evans | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jason Zucker | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ivan Demidov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Konsta Helenius | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Zach Metsa | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bowen Byram | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Michael Matheson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Norris | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mattias Samuelsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zachary Bolduc | - | - | - | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||