Patrik Laine hits rock bottom in Columbus

It hasn't exactly been a match made in heaven for Patrik Laine and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Since arriving from the Winnipeg Jets in a blockbuster deal involving Jack Roslovic and Pierre Luc Dubois, Laine has failed to impress Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella. Laine has been benched, he's been publicly admonished and now... he's banished to the fourth line.

Take a look at the Blue Jackets' lineup for tonight's game against the Nashville Predators and pay close attention to the 4th line left winger spot:

Ouch. Talk about hitting rock bottom.

You go from being a 2nd overall pick and potentially one of the best goal scorers of your generation to playing on a line with Zac Dalpe and Nathan Gerbe. Double ouch.

With Laine's contract up after this season, there's zero chance of him re-signing in Columbus, right? I know that he's a restricted free agent and doesn't have a ton of leverage, but if there's anyone I could see sitting out a whole year to get himself to unrestricted free agency, it's Laine. I would not be shocked in the least if he just flat out said, "I'm not signing with you," and held firm to that.

Regardless of the result, his contract negotiations this upcoming offseason are going to be absolutely fascinating. Laine is part of a new generation of NHLers who refuse to blindly sign on the dotted line. Look at the hard bargains driven by guys like Mitch Marner and William Nylander in recent years. The days of locking yourself up to a long-term deal like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel both did, I think, are over. Sure, it worked out for guys like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin over the course of their careers, but they had already experienced some level of team success before tying themselves down long-term. You think Eichel is happy to be signed with the Sabres for eternity? Not a chance and I think Laine would be wise to keep his options open until he's certain that he has found the right fit.

For what it's worth, the 23 year old Finnish sniper has just 10 goals and 18 points in 41 games this season. To put that in perspective, he nearly scoreed 50 goals for the Jets just three seasons ago.