Patrik Laine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrik Laine
Laine in 2017
Born	(1998-04-19) 19 April 1998 (age 26) Tampere, Finland
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Montreal Canadiens Tappara Winnipeg Jets Columbus Blue Jackets
National team	Finland
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 2016 Winnipeg Jets
Playing career	2014–present

Patrik Laine (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈpɑtrik ˈlɑi̯ne]; born 19 April 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Laine has also previously played for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Early life

Laine began playing hockey at four years old and was primarily a goaltender, before permanently switching to forward as a youth at the advice of his father. At age 16, he left school to focus on hockey full-time.

Playing career

Tappara

Laine started to play hockey in Ilves at age four, but soon changed to local competitor Tappara. He would make his Liiga debut at age 16 during the 2014–15 season with Tappara, logging six games and scoring one point. The following season, Laine scored 17 goals and 16 assists for a total of 33 points over a span of 46 games with the club.

Prior to his NHL draft season, Laine was ranked in numerous hockey publications as the fourth-best prospect entering the 2016 NHL entry draft. Due to strong play with Tappara early in the season and an impressive showing at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he scored eight goals in seven games, Laine's ranking on most draft projections rose from the season prior, when he had been widely considered a mid-first-round prospect.

After a dominant performance at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Laine received greater attention from scouts and casual observers alike. By January 2016, he had moved up the ranking on most draft lists to second overall. McKeen's Hockey notably ranked Laine first overall on its January 2016 list. According to hockey analyst Bob McKenzie's mid-season draft report, Laine had become the "clear consensus No. 2 choice" over fellow Finnish prospect Jesse Puljujärvi. This was due to what scouts described as a "'dynamic' element", with one scout elaborating, "Laine maybe is more of a pure goal scorer, a game-breaker with a little higher offensive ceiling."

Laine with Tappara at Helsinki Railway Square in March 2016.

By February 2016, Laine was considered a potential challenger for first overall at that year's draft, challenging the previous consensus choice, Auston Matthews. When asked if Matthews was still the favorite to be selected first overall in the June 2016 draft, several scouts expressed they "had to think long and hard about it . . . Laine is right there". One scout justified that "in the end, we favoured the centre over the winger but I don’t think it’s a reach at all to see Laine going first overall. A lot of our European scouts who see these guys think Laine is better".

In April 2016, McKenzie reported Laine had further closed the gap with Matthews, with two of the 10 NHL scouts surveyed by McKenzie reporting they would choose Laine ahead of Matthews. The other scouts in McKenzie's April report, meanwhile, stated they needed to think "long and hard about their decision" to rank Matthews ahead of Laine. The National Post would further add to this narrative, publishing an article with a headline proclaiming Laine to be the "NHL draft's true No. 1".

That same month, Laine's tenure with Tappara ended with his team finishing third overall in the Liiga standings and thus qualifying for the subsequent post-season. He played a pivotal role in the semifinal series against second-ranked Kärpät, scoring six goals in the seven-game series, including three last-minute goals to tie games four, five and six; two of those goals occurred in the final minute of the third period of their respective games, with Laine's Game six goal being scored at 19:59 of the third period with one second remaining on the clock. With his last-second tying goal in Game six, his eighth of the playoffs, Laine broke Liiga's previous goal-scoring record of seven goals in a single rookie playoff campaign. Laine and Tappara consequently defeated Kärpät and advanced to the 2016 Liiga Finals. Trailing 2–1 in the series against HIFK, Tappara coach Jussi Tapola moved Laine to the team's first line with Jani Lajunen and leading scorer Kristian Kuusela for Game four, where Laine recorded a goal and two assists to lead his team to a 2–2 series tie. This was Laine's first ever game on Tappara's top line—for the first part of the 2015–16 campaign he had played with Jere Karjalainen, Veli-Matti Savinainen and Stephen Dixon, while for the majority of the season, he played on the team's second line with Arttu Ilomäki and Jukka Peltola. For the first 15 games of the playoffs, his line featured Jan-Mikael Järvinen at centre with Peltola on right wing. Laine scored once more in the series-clinching match, as Tappara defeated HIFK in six games to win the Liiga championship title. He was likewise awarded the Jari Kurri Trophy as playoff MVP, finishing the post-season with 10 goals and 5 assists in 18 games.

Winnipeg Jets

After being selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets, Laine agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with Winnipeg on 3 July 2016, signalling the start to his North American career. On 13 October 2016, he made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut in the Jets' season-opening game against the Carolina Hurricanes in which he scored a goal along with an assist. On 19 October 2016, Laine registered his first career hat-trick in a 5–4 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming, at 18 years, 183 days old, the youngest player born outside North America to score at least twice in one game in NHL history. This record was bested by fellow Finn Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who, at 18 years, 118 days old, scored twice against the Washington Capitals on 1 November 2018. On 8 November 2016, Laine registered his second NHL hat-trick. On 7 January 2017, Laine suffered a concussion after being hit by Buffalo Sabres defenceman Jake McCabe while the former was receiving a pass. As a result, he would miss eight games. Despite his injury, Laine was selected to participate in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. On 14 February 2017, Laine scored his third NHL hat-trick. On 21 February 2017, Laine would break the Winnipeg Jets / Atlanta Thrashers franchise record for the most goals in a single season by a rookie, previously held by Ilya Kovalchuk with 29. By the end of the year, Laine had 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points, the second-highest in franchise history for a rookie, next to Dany Heatley who had 67 points (26 goals, 41 assists) as a rookie in 2001–02 season, and the highest since relocation to Winnipeg.

On 25 February 2018, during his second NHL campaign, Laine would score his 30th and 31st goals of the year, making him the seventh teenager in the history of NHL to register consecutive 30-goal seasons. On 6 March 2018, Laine scored his fourth NHL hat-trick in a 3–0 win over the New York Rangers, becoming the third teenager in the history of the NHL to record four three-goal games before their 20th birthday. On 15 March 2018, in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Laine extended his point streak to 14 games, which set a new NHL record for the longest point streak by a teenager in league history. His streak ended at 15 games on 20 March 2018 after he failed to collect a point in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. At the conclusion of the 2017–18 season, Laine ranked second for most goals scored in the regular season with 44, behind Alexander Ovechkin's 49. Despite losing the NHL top goal scorer award, Laine became the first teenager in 30 years to score a total of 80 goals, surpassing Sidney Crosby's 75. Laine recorded his first playoff goal in Game One against the Minnesota Wild to help the Jets to their first playoff win in franchise history, 3–2. He became the youngest player in Jets history, as well as the youngest Finnish player in the NHL, to score a playoff goal at 19 years 357 days.

After struggling to score at the beginning of the 2018–19 season, putting up only five points in 12 games, Laine recorded his fifth career hat-trick during the 2018 NHL Global Series in his home country, Finland. His three goals helped the Jets win 4–2 over the Florida Panthers. On 19 November 2018, Laine recorded his sixth career hat-trick against the Vancouver Canucks in a 6–3 win. On 24 November 2018, Laine recorded five goals in an 8–4 win over the St. Louis Blues, becoming the first person since Johan Franzén in February 2011 to accomplish that feat, and the 45th player cumulatively. Laine had only five shots in the game, making him the sixth player in NHL history to score five goals on five shots and the first since Wayne Gretzky in 1984. A few days later on 29 November, Laine scored his 100th goal, becoming the fourth-youngest player in NHL history to score 100 regular season goals.

Without contract as a restricted free agent, Laine traveled to Switzerland to train with SC Bern of the National League (NL). However, on 27 September 2019, he agreed to a two-year, $13.5 million contract extension with the Jets. The 2019–20 shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a resurgent one for Laine, scoring 63 points in 68 games for a career high 0.93 points per game. Despite this improvement, his wrist would be injured early into the play-in round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Calgary Flames, whereas the Jets were eliminated in four games.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Entering the offseason, rumors circulated that the Jets were interested in trading Laine, including from his own agent; Laine himself dismissed any concern about these rumors in an interview in January 2021. He would ultimately play in the season-opening game for the Jets against the Calgary Flames on 14 January 2021, scoring two goals and an assist, including the overtime-winning goal, in a 4–3 Jets win; however, would be sidelined after suffering an injury during practice a couple days thereafter. On 23 January, before returning from injury, Laine was traded with Jack Roslovic to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 third-round pick. On 9 February, Laine's off-ice issues surfaced again when, after multiple defensive lapses in a game versus Carolina, he got into a verbal altercation with an assistant coach and was subsequently benched for his actions. During his first season in Columbus, he scored 10 goals and 11 assists in 45 games.

On 27 July 2021, Laine accepted his qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets. This was followed by a four-year, $34.8 million contract extension with the team in July 2022. His tenure with the Blue Jackets continued to be plagued by injuries, causing him to miss a significant number of games. After suffering a fractured clavicle in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on 14 December 2023, it was announced in January 2024 that Laine had entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, personally citing a need to prioritize his "mental health and well-being."

Montreal Canadiens

Following the 2023–24 season, reports circulated that Laine was disgruntled with the Blue Jackets and that both parties sought a trade. This was later confirmed by newly hired Columbus general manager Don Waddell, who stated in an August 2024 interview that Laine "does not want to play for the Blue Jackets." Subsequently, on 19 August 2024, Laine was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, along with a second-round pick in 2026, for defenseman Jordan Harris. With his habitual jersey number 29 retired by the Canadiens in tribute to Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden, Laine chose instead to wear number 92. In a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on 28 September, he took a knee-on-knee collision with Leafs forward Cédric Paré and exited the game. Despite initial fears that he might miss significant playing time, it was subsequently announced that Laine would not require surgery, and would be sidelined for two to three months of the 2024–25 season while his knee rehabilitated.

International play

Laine (number 29) battling for the puck against Belarus at the 2016 IIHF World Championship
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Men's ice hockey
IIHF World Championship
Silver	2016 Russia
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver	2015 Switzerland
IIHF World U20 Championship
Gold	2016 Finland

In April 2015, Laine participated at the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) 2015 World U18 Championships for Finland. Through seven games in the tournament, Laine scored eight goals and three assists for 11 points to help lead his team to the gold medal match against the United States and an eventual silver medal finish. For his performance, he was named to the tournament All-Star Team.

Laine subsequently played for Finland at the 2016 World Junior Championships, where they won gold on 5 January 2016. Due to his impressive play throughout the tournament with linemates Jesse Puljujärvi and Sebastian Aho, Laine was named to the tournament All-Star Team. During the tournament, Laine scored seven goals and six assists for a total of 13 points in seven games.

Following his championship run with Tappara, Laine was named to Finland's roster at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, becoming the youngest Finnish player to ever play at the tournament. He debuted against Belarus, scoring two goals and one assist to become the youngest player in the tournament's history to score three points in a game. He followed this with a second consecutive two-goal, one-assist, three-point game against Germany, recording six points in two games to become the highest-scoring draft-age player in the tournament's history; the previous record was held by Jaromír Jágr, who at the same age scored three goals and two assists for five points in ten games at the 1990 World Ice Hockey Championships in Switzerland. In Finland's final round robin game against Canada, Laine did not score but was considered by analyst Ray Ferraro among others to have had his best game of the tournament. Laine and Finland subsequently reached the gold medal game, a rematch against Canada, where they were defeated 2–0. Laine finished the tournament with seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 10 games and led the tournament in goals scored. He achieved the second-highest point total by a U-19 player at a World Championship tournament, behind only Sidney Crosby's tournament total of 16 points at the 2006 IIHF World Championship. Collectively, Laine was named the tournament's most valuable player, as well as a member of the annual All-Star team, and received the IIHF Directorate Award recognizing the best forward.

Personal life

Growing up, Laine was a fan of the Washington Capitals, particularly star-forward Alexander Ovechkin. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games, with Fortnite being a personal favorite.

On 6 February 2018, The Players' Tribune published an article under Laine's byline titled "Winnipeg is Good", however, Laine himself denied any involvement aside from being interviewed.

In August 2024, Laine and his fiancée, Jordan, launched an online mental health support group known as "From Us to You". The platform allows users, publicly or anonymously, to share their experiences and advice for improving their mental health.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Finland	IH18	5th		3	1	0	1	2
2015	Finland	WJC18	2		7	8	3	11	0
2016	Finland	WJC	1		7	7	6	13	6
2016	Finland	WC	2		10	7	5	12	4
2016	Finland	WCH	8th		3	0	0	0	0
Junior totals					17	16	9	25	8
Senior totals					13	7	5	12	4

Awards and honours