31 Thoughts: How the Dubois-Laine trade finally came together
The blockbuster deal that saw Pierre-Luc Dubois and Patrik Laine made headlines on Saturday, but how and why did it come together? Answers in 31 Thoughts.
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Siinä Friedmanin ajatukset.As for Winnipeg. Blake Wheeler pushed back against the idea Laine was bullied out of the organization
“If I have any regrets, my regrets would be some of the frustrations that took place over the years,” the captain said. “Every time we communicated, it’s been nothing but positive. Never any fighting, never any yelling at each other…. So maybe I could have communicated a little better instead of just getting frustrated. Never once was I hard on Patty — far from it. If anything, I was very respectful and coddled a young teenager and 20-year-old.”
Whatever the case, one thing is very clear: Not everyone was 100 per cent comfortable with everyone else. That’s not necessarily fatal. Take a look around your own workplace — there are always factions, egos and petty jealousies. What matters is if everyone shows up to play, and Laine’s opener was out of this world.
What can screw up everything is money. The winger’s number is going to be high, and I don’t think the Jets were willing to go there. Look at their salary structure — everyone’s reasonably close. That, to me, is what ultimately set the move in motion.