Patrik Laine says he’s in much better shape than at this time last year

Dose
Crédit: Patrik Laine scores goal for Montreal Canadiens.

Today, Patrik Laine was taking part in his annual charity golf tournament in Finland with Aleksander Barkov, and the Habs forward gave an interview to the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat in which we learned a number of interesting tidbits.

The best news is that Laine says he’s in great shape both physically and mentally. Compared to this time last year, the Finn feels much better in body and mind.

In order to be ready for next season, he has been training much harder than usual on an almost daily basis, including numerous on-ice exercises. Last summer, Laine trained just three weeks before the start of the campaign.

The 27-year-old is also aware that he can give the Canadiens more, especially in a five-on-five situation for a player with only three goals at even strength [content-ads]. For the man who once considered quitting hockey due to mental problems, this is an important subject and a cause that is particularly close to his heart, and one in which the athlete is deeply involved.

Laine has long struggled with depression following the death of his father in 2021, which manifested itself in a problematic addiction to video games. The Finn had to work hard and make many changes in his life to get back to normal, and decided to part with all his classic cars and settle for less ostentatious rental vehicles.

Since then, he and his wife have helped many people with similar problems, insisting on the importance of sharing their experiences and spreading the word. During the summer, Laine also spent a lot of time in Montreal and with his team-mates, including numerous weddings.

The forward’s time in Finland will be short-lived for Laine, who says he’s feeling more and more like a North American. However, he’s also aware that he could be traded by the Canadiens during the season, but prefers to concentrate on the things he can control, such as his choice of destination next year, as he becomes a free agent without compensation.

Let’s just say that it’s reassuring to see the Habs player in top form a month before practice, and who knows, maybe we’ll see the Patrik Laine of his heyday, when he scored 44 goals and 70 points in his second season?

[spacer title=’En rafale’] – A draw for CF Montréal.

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do you think

– Victory for Canada.

🇨🇦🇺🇸

– What a pass!

– And what a catch!