Patrik Laine Faces Clear Punishment From Canadiens in New Lineup Reveal
It really seems like tension is slowly building between Martin St-Louis and Patrik Laine at the Montreal Canadiens' camp.
It's now been more than a week that the Finn has been sliding down the lineup. He's been spotted at practice on the fourth and even the fifth line.
For a player of his caliber, that's obviously a message.
And according to Martin Lemay, this is not an experiment, nor a simple adjustment before the season starts.
It's a punishment.
Patrik Laine demoted to the fourth line: a clear message from Martin St-Louis
During his appearance on the show Le Retour des Sportifs, Lemay was very direct:
"I'm trying to understand. What does he want to test by putting Laine with Beck and Veleno? It's not a test, it's a punishment, it's a consequence. Seriously, there's something to this."
- Martin Lemay
- Martin Lemay
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Veleno-Dach-Gallagher
Anderson-Evans-Laine
F.Xhekaj-Beck-Blais
Guhle-Hutson
Struble-Dobson
A.Xhekaj-Engstrom
Montembeault
Dobes
Veleno-Dach-Gallagher
Anderson-Evans-Laine
F.Xhekaj-Beck-Blais
Guhle-Hutson
Struble-Dobson
A.Xhekaj-Engstrom
Montembeault
Dobes
"I know he has a good shot and is efficient on the power play but we have to continue seeing the details in his game during five-on-five"
- Martin St-Louis
- Martin St-Louis
The message is therefore clear for Laine: talent isn't enough, and no one is above the system.
Honestly, I think St-Louis just wants to provoke a reaction. Hopefully, it comes. The Habs need Laine giving 100%, every game.
And in my opinion, if he responds on the ice, all this could quickly be forgotten. But for now, the situation is becoming hard to ignore.
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