Patrik Laine has entered the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program and will be unavailable indefinitely for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The forward will return to the Blue Jackets when he has been cleared by administrators under the terms of the joint program for on-ice competition.
"I wanted to take a moment to address my need to step away from the game for a while," Laine said Sunday in a post on Instagram. "After careful consideration and discussions with my support network and the team, I have recognized the importance of prioritizing my mental health and well-being. Hockey has been my passion and my life, but I have come to realize that in order to perform at my best, I need to take this time to focus on myself.
"I am grateful for the understanding and support of my team, the League, and our fans during this time. I look forward to returning to the ice with a clear mind and renewed energy. Thank you for respecting my privacy during this time and for your continued support.
"With love, Patty."
Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement: "Patrik has our complete support, and our sole concern is his well-being. Out of respect for Patrik, we will have no further comment."
Laine, who was initially expected to return at some point during the Blue Jackets' current five-game road trip, has been out since he sustained a broken clavicle during a 6-5 overtime loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 14. He had rejoined the Blue Jackets in practice two weeks ago hoping to return before the end of their road trip at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
"He's going to head back to Columbus, just a setback with the injury," Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said Saturday. "He's not going to be able to play on the trip."
The Blue Jackets (15-24-10), who will be off until Feb. 10 after playing the Blues, are eighth in the Metropolitan Division.
"First, I need to set the record straight with you guys and our fans," Vincent clarified on Sunday. "... I misspoke in the sense that he [Laine] had a setback and he had to go home because of that. So, I apologize to you guys, but my intention was to protect Patrik because we care a lot about him and we're going to miss this man for the time being. He's a big deal for us, and we're going to do everything we can to help him. And that program is there because it's valued. It's a great thing for the players, and we're going to go from there."
"Those guys are hockey players, that's what they do for a living, but they're people, and we're going to miss [Patrik] on the ice. But taking care of our people is No. 1. And like Jarmo said in the statement, we're going to do everything we can to help him."
Laine, 25, has nine points (six goals, three assists) and is minus-10 in 18 games this season. He missed nine games in October and November because of a concussion, was a healthy scratch for the first time in the NHL against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 19, and missed three games with an illness in early December.
Selected with the No. 2 pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Draft, Laine has 388 points (204 goals, 184 assists) in 480 regular-season games for the Jets and Blue Jackets, and 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He was acquired by Columbus along with forward Jack Roslovic in a trade with Winnipeg on Jan. 23, 2021, for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
NHL.com independent correspondents Darren Brown and Kevin Woodley contributed to this report
