Laine says he's ready, but Blue Jackets playing it safe with star's return
Patrik Laine feels ready to rejoin the Blue Jackets’ lineup.
The Finnish forward said he’s felt ready to return from an oblique strain for “a week and a half,” but five postponed games during a COVID-19 outbreak contributed to his delayed return.
Laine was injured Nov. 3 in Denver and is almost two weeks beyond his initial estimated return of 4-to-6 weeks, which includes time spent in Finland mourning the death of his father plus the NHL’s shutdown of the Blue Jackets’ facilities prior to an extended holiday break.
He participated in a third straight practice Tuesday, skating with center Alexandre Texier and Jakub Voracek, but didn’t work with either of the team’s power-play groups. That could be an indicator that Laine is not a shoo-in to play Thursday against the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena, assuming that game isn't postponed.
“We’ve had a couple breaks here,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “He was away with the family issue there, with the loss of his father, which was hard. He missed some time, and he missed some time with his injury. He missed some time again with this (COVID-19 shutdown), and we’re still managing the injury. We’ve got to be smart with that too. You don’t want him to get in and re-injure it or put him in a bad position.”
Laine told reporters Monday he’s ready to return.
“It’s just up to the coach when he wants to put me back in,” Laine said. “I’ve been feeling really good the last week, week-and-a-half, but I feel ready to go.”
This isn’t the first time Laine has dealt with an oblique strain, one of the most unpredictable injuries in sports. It’s not like a broken bone or sprained MCL in the knee, which typically heal in predetermined amounts of time. Obliques are muscles that run alongside the torso and are critical in the pushing motion of skating.
During the game he was injured, Laine pulled up while forechecking behind the Colorado Avalanche net. He left the game and didn’t return, knowing what injury he’d sustained. Laine also strained an oblique with the Winnipeg Jets last season, prior to the trade that brought him and Jack Roslovic to Columbus.
That one took about three weeks. This one needed more time.
“I actually had it first game last year, also, so it's not new to me,” Laine said. “I think was a little bit worse than last year, but it’s definitely not new. I’ve just got to heal quick and get back to action.”
The Blue Jackets could certainly use him in the lineup, regardless of when it happens.
They went 6-3-0 in nine games with Laine, who won two games with overtime goals and added 10 points on three goals and seven assists while skating with the top line and top power-play group. They went 5-3-0 in the first eight games without him but have won just twice in the 10 games (2-7-1) prior to their string of postponements.
“It’s obviously a frustrating time to be injured, but injuries … they don’t ask any questions,” Laine said. “They just happen sometimes. I’ve just got to find a way to get back and play the same way that I did before.”
Boone Jenner, Eric Robinson and Joonas Korpisalo remain on Blue Jackets’ COVID protocols list
The Blue Jackets didn't add any new names to their COVID-19 protocols list after testing Tuesday and Jakub Voracek was able to practice after an undisclosed injury kept him off the ice Monday.
Those were positives on the health front, but the Jackets also practiced without three players nearing the end of their 10-day isolation periods. Captain Boone Jenner, forward Eric Robinson and goalie Joonas Korpisalo were still on the protocols list for a third straight workout, which could keep them out for the game scheduled Thursday against Nashville.
Gaining clearance, which includes cardiac screens, will only be the first step toward returning to game condition. None of the three have skated since the Jackets’ loss Dec. 16 in Edmonton, which means Tuesday was 12th straight day off the ice. That’s a long down period to overcome while trying to recondition legs and lungs for game action — assuming all three are cleared from protocols by Thursday.
Oliver Bjorkstrand was placed on the protocols list after testing positive Monday and is almost certainly out against Nashville unless he’s asymptomatic and passes two COVID-19 tests within a 24-hour span.
“This isn’t a break and then you get to prepare for 10 more days,” Larsen said Tuesday. “They’ve had to postpone games for us to get a few extra practice days, which we will definitely take. Day 1 (of practice Sunday) was terrifying when I watched them skate, what that looked like for the first hour, but Day 2 was much better. And I thought (Tuesday) was another good day. It takes time to get up to speed.”
bhedger@dispatch.com
@BrianHedger
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets playing it safe with Laine's return
