As usual, the Montreal Canadiens players spoke to the media on locker room clearing day to reflect on their season. Unlike last season, when the Habs missed the playoffs, this year's group met and exceeded management's expectations.
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Patrik Laine had set a different goal for himself; however, he wanted to enjoy playing hockey again, and he succeeded. Speaking to the press on Friday morning, he explained:
For me, obviously, with an injury and stuff, it wasn’t the easiest start. The only goal that I had for myself this year was to really enjoy playing again, and I definitely did that. Even though it was hard at times, I still enjoyed every bit of it. For me individually, you know, people are always going to talk about numbers and all that, but for me, it was a success that I got to enjoy this sport again.- <br>
As for the injury that ruled him out of the last three playoff games, he described it as a “fly-by slash” and explained that there was no issue with his knee. He was pleased he decided not to have surgery and added that none was necessary right now either, that his knee was fine.
Asked how Montreal helped rekindle his love for hockey, the big Finn explained:
The whole organization, the city overall kind of gave me that spark again to enjoy the sport, everyone involved, well not you guys [the media], you guys definitely weren’t part of it, but the organization overall, nah I was kidding. Being around these guys here, everybody within the organization and the city is just so awesome, it definitely helped me go through tough times this year, still when it was hard to enjoy the process and keep you motivated, so I think it was pretty great.- Laine on how Montreal helped him find the joy of playing again.
The sniper wants to have a week of rest and start training again, something he didn’t have the luxury to do last off-season with the shoulder surgery he had to undergo. He’s happy he has all the time he needs to be in good shape when camp comes and be better than he was this past September.
Laine wasn’t surprised that his love for the sport came back in a city like Montreal, where there is so much scrutiny. He even added that he preferred that kind of setting to a place where hockey isn’t such a priority. He then quickly added that he wasn’t talking about Columbus there. It’s almost as if he learned his lesson from the comments he made before a game against the Blue Jackets earlier this season.
In closing, he said he was glad he didn’t retire when he considered doing it not so long ago, an option he had discussed with his GM and agent. While Laine did infuriate some fans throughout the season with his defensive shortcomings and lack of impact at even strength, he was seventh in scoring on the team with 33 points in just 52 games and had the league’s third-highest total of power play goals with 15.
It will be interesting to see what Kent Hughes says about the enigmatic winger when he speaks to the press on Monday, but he knew going in that even-strength play wasn’t Laine’s forte. The left winger seemed comfortable and at ease with the press on Friday, adding some jokes to his answers and even referring to young teammate Ivan Demidov as Demigod, this to me doesn’t look like a player who believes he’s on his way out.
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