Patrik Laine Opens up in First Montreal Press Conference

Patrik Laine, the 26-year-old Finnish sniper, is ready to turn a new leaf with the Montreal Canadiens.

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded Laine to Montreal on Monday in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris. The Finnish forward had publicly requested a trade from the CBJ.

Laine got candid with the Montreal media at a press conference on Monday, expressing excitement and determination to contribute to his new team’s success.

Video:

Here are the key talking points from Laine’s interview with the Montreal media:

Excitement to Join Montreal

Laine is looking to make the most of his opportunity with Montreal and appreciates the chance to play in another passionate hockey market.

“I’m super excited to go to Montreal,” Laine shared with a smile. “Obviously, I kind of lived that in Winnipeg of how crazy hockey is in Canada. And now, obviously, going to Montreal will be even crazier.”

Laine thinks that the Habs have a promising future ahead, with a strong foundation of young talent and a respected head coach in Martin St. Louis.

“I feel like I’m at that point in my career where I can kind of guide these young guys since I’ve been around for a few years now and kind of seen a lot of things,” he explained.

Personal Goals

When asked about his personal goals for the upcoming season, Laine didn’t mince words.

“I don’t want to come back as a 30 goal scorer,” he declared. “I want to come back as a 40, 50. I’ve done that previously, and it’s not by accident.”

However, he quickly emphasized that individual achievements are secondary to team success. “I just want to win, you know, I’m kind of getting to that age as well. I’m not 19 years old anymore.

“I wanna come in and do whatever it takes to contribute to the team and make the team win. Whether it’s me scoring 50 or scoring 20, as long as the team wins, that’s all I’m about,” Laine stated, setting the tone for his stint with the Canadiens.

Mental Health

Laine also touched on his mental health journey and the importance of prioritizing his well-being. The forward entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in January 2024 to address personal matters related to his mental health. He was cleared to return in July of this year.

Laine recently launched a mental health campaign with his fiancée, Jordan, which has garnered media attention and respect. He encourages others to share their experiences and triumphs over personal struggles.

Patrik Laine and his fiancé announced a new mental health initiative called From Us to You on Instagram.

Laine also thanked everyone for the support he has received over the past few months 👏

(via IG/patriklaine, IG/fromustoy0u) pic.twitter.com/VUyXcDj07S

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) August 12, 2024

“I feel like now it’s how to navigate through them, how to handle them. Is the glass half full or half empty kind of thing? You know, looking at things in like a more positive perspective these days.”

“I feel like I’m in a really, really good place,” Laine shared. “Happier than ever off the ice, obviously, and done a lot of work on myself to get me back to this point where I’m actually super excited about playing.”

Time in Columbus

Laine didn’t want to reflect too much on his time in Columbus, wishing to focus on what’s ahead instead. “It just wasn’t a great fit for me,” he noted.

Despite the difficulties, Laine expressed appreciation for his time in Columbus, stating, “I’m still gonna, you know, cherish my time in Columbus. Yeah. I wasn’t always easy, but, um, yeah, when you look back on it, I still, you know, I, I loved being and living in Columbus”.

He praised the city’s people and fans, describing them as “great” and “passionate.

Laine emphasized that his experience in Columbus taught him valuable lessons, particularly about himself as a person off the ice. He believes these lessons will stay with him for the rest of his life.

The Next Chapter

The trade to Montreal comes as a relief for Laine, who had requested a change of scenery from the Blue Jackets. “I just knew as a person that I needed the new start somewhere else, more so as a person than as a hockey player,” he explained.

As Laine embarks on this new chapter in his career, he clearly has the support of Habs fans and the hockey community. His excitement about playing in the historic Montreal arena and following in the footsteps of Finnish hockey legend Saku Koivu is palpable.

With the 2024-25 NHL season just around the corner, all eyes will be on Laine as he dons the iconic bleu, blanc, et rouge of the Montreal Canadiens.

As he stated himself, Laine is ready to do “whatever it takes” to help his new team succeed.