Patrik Laine has played his first-ever game with the Montreal Canadiens after his move from the Columbus Blue Jackets this summer.
It’s been a rough couple of years for the Finnish star player, but last night proved how massive the support is for him, as the crowd’s reaction to him touching the puck for the first time as a Canadian was absolutely heartwarming.
Patrik Laine was drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016, and in his just second NHL season, he recroded a career-high of 44 goals and 70 points. In 2021, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he hasn’t played more than 68 games in a season since 2019-20. Laine suffered a broken left clavicle last December that required surgery. In January this year, he entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program while dealing with ’mental-health issues.’
Patrik Laine has talked openly about his mental health problems, shedding light on the challenges he’s faced in the last couple of years. He and his fiancée have started a community organization called ’From Us To You,’ which encourages people to seek help.
”I think one of the best [pieces of] advice ever given to me was to be brave enough to ask for help,” Laine said in an Instagram post this summer. ”Personally, I struggle with that a lot. There’s a lot of shame, a lot of being too proud to reach out and ask for help.”
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Laine was acquired by the Canadiens this summer, along with a second-round pick at the 2026 NHL Draft, in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris. On Monday, Laine played his first pre-season game with the Canadiens. Laine was held off the scoresheet, but he did record five shots on goal in the Canadiens’ 5-0 win over the Flyers on Monday. He was on the ice for 16:48, as he played on the top line with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook.
Although Laine didn’t score a goal in the game, he got the loudest cheer of the night – by just touching the puck. When he was on the ice for his first shift, Laine got possession of the puck for the first time as a Canadien, and the crowd went absolutely wild, all standing up and cheering. It was heartwarming to see Laine, a player with huge talent but who’s been struggling lately, getting support from his new home fans. We need more of this!
