Columbus Blue Jackets supporters and players have come together to support forward Patrik Laine after a podcaster made a disrespectful comment about his struggles with mental health.
Laine recently joined the player assistance program established by the NHL and NHLPA.
“I would like to take a moment to address my decision to temporarily step away from the game,” Laine shared on Instagram. “After careful consideration and discussions with my support system and the team, I have recognized the importance of prioritizing my mental well-being.”
Undoubtedly, the well-being of an individual takes precedence over their involvement in hockey, so we hope that Laine is receiving the necessary support.
Naturally, his absence has an impact on his team. This was the subject of conversation among the hosts of the B&B Round Table, who attempted to inject humor into the various challenges faced by the team, including Laine’s absence.
Laine himself noticed the comment and retweeted it with the statement, “This is simply unacceptable.”
The podcast has since issued an apology for the comment and deactivated its account on X.
Laine has been open about his mental health struggles and has actively supported causes related to mental well-being. This season, he initiated a campaign called Laine Gives Back, in which he pledged to donate $1,000 to initiatives supporting men’s mental health for every point he scores.
Unfortunately, Laine sustained an injury in December, limiting his participation to only 18 games this season. As a result, his point total remains at 10.
In response to the incident involving the podcast, fans of the Blue Jackets made donations to the campaign, effectively matching Laine’s $10,000 contribution.
Additionally, Laine’s teammate Johnny Gaudreau announced on Tuesday that he would take on the same commitment, donating $1,000 for each point he scores.
Gaudreau has accumulated 35 points in 52 games this season.
According to the Source outkick.com