Canadiens: Laine On Wonderful Introduction And Crushing Injury

Patrik Laine had a rough ride over the last few years, which landed him in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program last year to deal with mental health issues. Once he got back on track, he asked the Columbus Blue Jackets to trade him for a new beginning, and the team obliged, making him a Montreal Canadiens this Summer. 

Last April, Laine and his fiancée launched the mental health initiative From Us to You on Instagram, and yesterday, on World Mental Health Day, the couple held a Q and A session.

A couple of the questions were particularly interesting. The sniper was asked how he deals with injury from a mental health standpoint, and he answered:

It's music to my ears to watch him say how important it is to stay around the team and close to the guys. Back in Winnipeg, when he struggled, team members said he tended to get down on himself. Not staying alone is key to avoiding the getting down on yourself trap, and Laine no doubt knows about that. When he was introduced to the Montreal media, he said the Player Assistance Program allowed him to learn some coping mechanisms, and that's proof of a lesson learned. 

Those in attendance at the home opener on Wednesday made sure the big Finn felt welcome at the Bell Centre, and I'm sure we've all noticed how visibly moved Laine was. On that topic, he explained:

Personally, I loved the look Martin St-Louis gave Laine as he took in the Habs' faithful applause. The coach looked so proud of the fan base, and when he gave his players a couple of pats on the back, it felt like he was saying, "See? What did I tell you about Montreal?"

Hopefully, the Finn will be back on the ice sooner rather than later and will make a full recovery before returning to in-game action. 

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