Patrik Laine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrik Laine
Laine in 2017
Born	(1998-04-19) 19 April 1998 (age 27) Tampere, Finland
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 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 is a professional ice hockey player from Finland. He plays as a right winger for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL). Patrik was chosen second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL draft. He also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets before joining the Canadiens.

Early life and hockey start

Patrik Laine started playing hockey when he was four years old. At first, he was a goaltender, but his dad suggested he switch to playing forward. He became a forward and stuck with it.

When he was 16, Patrik left school to focus completely on his hockey career.

Playing career highlights

Playing for Tappara (2015–2016)

Patrik began his hockey journey with a team called Ilves at age four. He soon moved to a local rival team, Tappara. He made his first professional league appearance in Finland's top league, Liiga, when he was just 16.

In the 2015–16 season, Patrik scored 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 46 games with Tappara. Before the NHL draft, many hockey experts ranked him as a top prospect. His strong play and great performance at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships helped him move up the rankings.

After an amazing performance at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, more scouts and fans noticed Patrik. By January 2016, he was ranked second overall on most draft lists. Experts said he was a "dynamic" player and a "pure goal scorer."

Laine with Tappara in March 2016

By February 2016, some even thought Patrik could be the first player picked in the draft, challenging Auston Matthews. Scouts debated who was better, with some saying Patrik was "right there" with Matthews.

In April 2016, Patrik's time with Tappara ended. His team finished third in the Liiga standings and made it to the playoffs. He played a huge role in the semifinals, scoring six goals in a seven-game series. He even scored three last-minute goals to tie games, two of which were in the final minute.

Patrik broke the Liiga record for most goals by a rookie in a single playoff season with eight goals. Tappara then beat Kärpät and moved on to the 2016 Liiga Finals. Patrik helped his team win the Liiga championship title in six games. He was also named the playoff MVP, scoring ten goals and five assists in 18 playoff games.

Time with the Winnipeg Jets (2016–2021)

After being picked second overall by the Winnipeg Jets, Patrik signed a three-year contract in July 2016. This started his career in North America. On October 13, 2016, he played his first NHL game and scored a goal and an assist.

On October 19, Patrik scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game). He was 18 years and 183 days old, making him the youngest player born outside North America to score at least twice in an NHL game. He scored another hat-trick on November 8.

In January 2017, Patrik got a concussion and missed eight games. Even with the injury, he was chosen for the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. On February 14, he scored his third NHL hat-trick. A week later, he broke the Jets' rookie record for most goals in a season. By the end of the year, he had 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points.

In his second NHL season (2017–18), Patrik scored his 30th and 31st goals. This made him one of only seven teenagers in NHL history to have two seasons with 30 or more goals. On March 6, he scored his fourth NHL hat-trick. He also set a new NHL record for the longest point streak by a teenager, with 14 games.

Patrik finished the 2017–18 season with 44 goals, second-highest in the league. He became the first teenager in 30 years to score 80 total goals in the NHL. He scored his first playoff goal in Game One against the Minnesota Wild. This made him the youngest player in Jets history and the youngest Finnish player in the NHL to score a playoff goal.

At the start of the 2018–19 season, Patrik had a slow start. But he scored his fifth career hat-trick during the 2018 NHL Global Series in his home country, Finland. On November 24, 2018, Patrik scored five goals in one game against the St. Louis Blues. He was the first player since 2011 to do this. He also became the sixth player in NHL history to score five goals on only five shots. A few days later, he scored his 100th NHL goal, becoming one of the youngest players to reach this milestone.

In September 2019, Patrik signed a new two-year contract with the Jets. The 2019–20 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrik had a great season, scoring 63 points in 68 games.

Playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets (2021–2024)

In January 2021, Patrik was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was traded along with Jack Roslovic for Pierre-Luc Dubois. During his first season in Columbus, he scored 10 goals and 11 assists in 45 games.

In July 2021, Patrik signed a one-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets. This was followed by a four-year contract in July 2022. His time with the Blue Jackets was affected by injuries, causing him to miss many games. In January 2024, Patrik announced he was taking time to focus on his "mental health and well-being" by entering a special NHL program.

Joining the Montreal Canadiens (2024–present)

After the 2023–24 season, it was reported that Patrik wanted to leave the Blue Jackets. On August 19, 2024, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He joined the Canadiens along with a second-round draft pick, in exchange for defenceman Jordan Harris. Patrik chose to wear number 92 for the Canadiens, as his usual number 29 was retired by the team to honor Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden.

In a preseason game on September 28, Patrik suffered a knee injury. Luckily, he did not need surgery, but he was sidelined for two to three months. He made his Canadiens debut on December 3, scoring his first goal with the team. He scored his first hat-trick as a Canadien on December 17, making it his 11th career hat-trick. This put him third all-time among Finnish-born NHL players.

Patrik suffered another injury on December 23, but he did not miss any more games. After missing four games due to the flu, he returned to play on January 11, 2025. A few days later, on January 14, Patrik recorded his 400th NHL point. He became the seventh Finnish player in NHL history to reach 400 points in fewer than 500 games. He played his 500th NHL game on January 23.

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 U20 Championship
Gold	2016 Finland
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver	2015 Switzerland

In April 2015, Patrik played for Finland's national under-18 team at the World U18 Championships. He scored eight goals and three assists, helping his team win a silver medal. He was named to the tournament's All-Star Team.

Patrik then played for the Finland national junior team at the 2016 World Junior Championships. He helped his team win a gold medal on January 5, 2016. He was named to the tournament All-Star Team after getting 13 points in seven games.

After winning the championship with Tappara, Patrik was chosen for the Finland national team for the 2016 IIHF World Championship. He was the youngest Finnish player ever to play in this tournament. He scored two goals and one assist in his first game, becoming the youngest player in the tournament's history to score three points in a game.

Patrik finished the tournament with seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 10 games. He led the tournament in goals scored. He was named the tournament's most valuable player and was also part of the All-Star team.

On December 4, 2024, Patrik was named to the Finnish team for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. He had three assists in three games, and his country finished in fourth place.

Personal life

When Patrik was growing up, he was a big fan of the Washington Capitals, especially star player Alexander Ovechkin. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, with Fortnite being one of his favorites.

In August 2024, Patrik helped start an online support group called "From Us to You." This platform allows people to share their experiences and advice for improving their mental health.

On June 28, 2025, Patrik married Jordan Smith in Palm Beach, Florida.

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			7	8	3	11	0
2016	Finland	WJC			7	7	6	13	6
2016	Finland	WC			10	7	5	12	4
2016	Finland	WCH	8th		3	0	0	0	0
2025	Finland	NHL4N	4th		3	0	3	3	0
Junior totals					17	16	9	25	8
Senior totals					16	7	8	15	4

Awards and honours