Patrik Laine has called teammate Bryan Little to say he's sorry for recent comments in a article where he stated he wanted to play more top line minutes. In the article, Laine said: "There are top lines and then there is our line. But I play with the guys I'm told to play." Laine is often told to play with Little, who has just 11 primary assists on Laine's 110 goals over three seasons.
In that same interview, Laine also said "With the merits I have, somewhere else I'd have an opportunity to play with the best players. Everybody who understands hockey knows that." While Little has never said directly that he took offense to the comments, it would be difficult for anyone in his situation not be be at least a little ticked off with those remarks.
Little told Jets TV host Jamie Thomas that Laine's texted him following the interview. The two then chatted on the phone and Laine apologized for the comments. That's probably for the best, as it appears Jets head coach Paul Maurice has no intention of giving in to Laine's demands for minutes with Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele, and unless Winnipeg pulls the trigger on a trade, which seems unlikely at the moment, the restricted free agent is either going to play with the Jets or not at all.
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