Columbus Blue Jackets’ Patrik Laine enters NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

Laine, 25, has been out of the Blue Jackets lineup since December 14th due to a clavicle fracture, and he was nearing a return before a “setback” sent him back home to Columbus on Saturday during their Northwest road trip, which is likely related to him entering the program. At this time, the reason for why he has entered the program remains unknown.

“He will be unavailable to the club for an indefinite period while he receives care,” said the Columbus Blue Jackets in a statement released by the team. “Under the terms of the joint NHL/NHLPA program, he will return to the club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.”

“Patrik has our complete support, and our sole concern is his well-being,” said Blue Jackets General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen in the statement.  “Out of respect for Patrik, we will have no further comment.”

Laine has struggled this season, largely due to his health only allowing him into 18 games, but even in that time span, he has just six goals and three assists for nine points on the year. It would be just the third time in his career that he hasn’t produced close a point-per-game pace in an otherwise surprisingly consistent career.

Laine was a former second-overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Draft. He spent parts of five seasons with the team before he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a deal that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Winnipeg in 2021, and he has since spent parts of four seasons in Columbus.

Laine is currently in the second year of a four-year contract with an $8.7 million cap hit, a deal he signed in the 2022 offseason as a restricted free agent.

The Blue Jackets will look to snap a stretch of three losses in four games when they visit Seattle to play the Kraken on Sunday night at 9 p.m. EST. They currently have the fifth-worst record in the league at 15-23-10.