Rival Patrik Laine Makes Heartwarming Gesture Ahead of Leafs-Isles Game
There's a century old heated rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs but for Patrik Laine, a chance to help his country puts all that aside.
Patrik Laine has been one of the NHL's best comeback stories this season. After suffering a gruesome injury in the preseason, he's returned with a new lease on his career and showed exactly why he was drafted second overall.
His roster spot on the Canadiens instantly means that Toronto is public enemy number one, but for Laine the game is more important than any rivalry. Ahead of the Leafs and Islanders game on Tuesday afternoon, Laine made sure some young hockey players got to take in the festivities.
Patrik Laine's Gesture A Sign Of His True Character
Patrik Laine's journey back to the NHL has been one filled with questions surrounding not only his physical health, but mental as well. Having checked into the NHLPA Player Assistance Program, he took a step back from the game in order to focus on his well-being.
Though he's had some serious struggles in his career, he never lost sight of the things around him. Pledging to donate $1000 for every point he scored during the 2023-24 season to the OhioHealth Foundation, he is not only charitable but aware of the importance of being mentally sound.
His latest charitable endeavor is a measure of who exactly Laine is. It doesn't matter if it's a heated rival, or a best friend; Laine is impartial. Ensuring that some young Finnish hockey players get to experience what is more than likely their first NHL game is a lifetime memory, and for Laine it's just another day.
Since coming back this season after being acquired by the Canadiens, Laine has been a force to be reckoned with.
He has eight goals in 12 games including a hat-trick, and has been a sparkplug for a Montreal team that has won four of their last five games.
For his career since being drafted 2nd overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016 (the Auston Matthews year) he has 212 goals and 186 assists for 398 points in 492 games and has spent time with Columbus in addition to the Jets and Canadiens.
A big kudos needs to go out to Patrik Laine for his humble and heartwarming gesture. He understands the importance of not only hockey as a whole, but the lifetime memories that can come from what Laine did.
He may be part of a rival team, but it's hard to look at Patrik Laine as anything but a great guy.
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