Patrik Laine’s return to Columbus wasn’t exactly a warm homecoming.
The Montreal Canadiens forward got an earful from Blue Jackets fans the moment he touched the puck Tuesday night. It was his first game back since asking for a trade this summer.
The crowd didn’t waste any time letting him know how they felt.
And the Blue Jackets players? They weren’t rolling out the welcome mat either. Dmitri Voronkov sent Laine crashing into the boards early in the first period – a hit that got the home fans on their feet cheering.
It’s been quite a journey for Laine, who’s now in his ninth NHL season. The Finnish star went from being one of Columbus’s key players to persona non grata after requesting that offseason trade.
The tension in Nationwide Arena was pretty obvious from the start. Every time Laine got the puck, the boos rained down – a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in professional sports.
