Patrik Laine Having Issues Immigrating To The USA

As you already know, Patrik Laine was traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois, among other assets. Laine, a Finnish citizen, has been having issues emigrating from Canada and immigrating to the United States.

Dubois is in quarantine in Winnipeg, Manitoba until he is approved to join his new team. Laine has not yet arrived to the United States to begin his mandatory quarantine period. Instead, he is in Ottawa, Ontario waiting for the US Embassy to process his work visa. This must be extremely frustrating for the Blue Jackets' management as the quick quarantine period was one of the reasons the trade deal was accepted.

It's safe to say that Laine will be out of the lineup for some time to come. As soon as his work visa is processed, he will be free to travel to the US and begin his quarantine period in Ohio.

As of 2:30 pm ET Thursday, Patrick Laine is still in Ottawa waiting for the US Embassy to process his US Work Visa.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) January 28, 2021