Former Blue Jackets forward says he needed to leave after 'things happened,' and says he tired of 'losing and just giving up when it's December.'

That is why, Laine said, he requested the trade that landed him in Montreal in August. Laine’s words made it down the hallway to the Blue Jackets’ dressing room and eventually up to the suite level, where the Blue Jackets’ front office is housed.

Former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine returned to Nationwide Arena for the first time since being dealt to the Montreal Canadiens in a move that he requested; he felt a change of scenery would be best for him and his career.

Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine had some critical words for his former teammates on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Laine opened up with Blue Jackets reporter Aaron Portzlline yesterday, expressing his reasons for wanting a trade out of Columbus: “I feel like we were just doing the same thing year after year,