Patrik Laine gets back at insensitive podcaster in best way possible!

Earlier this week, a podcaster appeared to completely forget that NHL players are also human beings. During a Columbus Blue Jackets-themed podcast, one host mocked forward Patrik Laine, who since late January, has taken a leave of absence from the team and returned to his native Finland, citing personal reasons and the need to improve his mental health. The podcaster made a terrible negative comment on Laine’s mental health, which prompted the star player to hold those podcasters to account on social media. 

Laine has always been an advocate in promoting mental health, donating $1,000 for every point he records this season to the OhioHealth Foundation to provide resources and support to the Columbus community. And so, after the podcaster went out of lines in his comments towards Laine’s time off to get help from the NHL / NHLPA assistance program, his fans have gotten back at the BNB Roundtable podcast by donating over $10,000 to a fund Laine set up to benefit men’s mental health initiatives.

His representatives at Octagon Hockey also supports his cause and asked fans to Laine foster a culture of understanding and empathy around mental health.

Laine has been through so much in recent years, losing his father. The forward has previously said that his father was his mentor in hockey and in life and that the two spoke to each other every single day. It’s been posited by fans that perhaps Laine didn’t take the time he needed back in 2021 to deal with his grief. You can imagine how difficult it must be for a young man with so much pressure on his shoulders to lose his father and mentor.

At this difficult time for Laine, one in which he still speaks out in support of mental and, we should applaud his efforts.

I love how many fans are doing exactly that by donating for a great cause and supporting Laine not only during the time off he needs to get better, but also when he gets attacked by ignorant and insensitive folks like the podcaster.

You never know what inner battles people are fighting and so let’s be kind and support one of another, including a top athlete like Laine, during the rough patches.

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