Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Patrik Laine was born April 19, 1998, in Tampere, Finland. He was selected with the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. On 3 July 2016, he agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with Winnipeg, signalling the start to his North American career. On 13 October 2016, Laine made his debut in the NHL when he played in the Jets' season-opening game in which Laine got a goal and an assist. On 19 October 2016, Laine scored his first hat-trick in a 5–4 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming, at 18 years, 183 days old, the youngest player born outside North America to score at least twice in one game in NHL history. This record was bested by fellow Finn Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who, at 18 years, 118 days old, scored twice against the Washington Capitals on 1 November 2018. On 8 November 2016, Laine got his second NHL hat-trick. On 7 January 2017, Buffalo Sabres defenceman Jake McCabe hit Laine while he was receiving a pass. As a result, Laine suffered a concussion and missed eight games. Despite his injury, Laine was selected to participate in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. On 14 February 2017, Laine scored his third NHL hat trick. On 21 February 2017, Laine broke the Winnipeg Jets / Atlanta Thrashers franchise record for the most goals in a single season by a rookie, previously held by Ilya Kovalchuk with 29 goals. By the end of the year, Laine had 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points, the second-highest in franchise history for a rookie, next to Dany Heatley who had 67 points (26 goals, 41 assists) as a rookie in 2001–02, and the highest since relocation to Winnipeg.

In Laine's second season with Winnipeg, on 25 February 2018, Laine scored his 30th and 31st goals of the year, making him the seventh teenager in the history of NHL to score consecutive 30-goal seasons. On 6 March 2018, Laine scored his fourth NHL hat-trick in a 3–0 win over the New York Rangers, becoming the third teenager in the history of the NHL to record four three-goal games before their 20th birthday. On 15 March 2018, in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Laine extended his point streak to 14 games, which set a new NHL record for the longest point streak by a teenager in NHL history. His streak ended at 15 games on 20 March 2018 after he failed to collect a point in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. At the conclusion of the 2017–18 regular season, Laine placed second for most goals scored in the regular season with 44, behind Alexander Ovechkin's 49. Despite losing the NHL top goal scorer award, Laine became the first teenager in 30 years to score a total of 80 goals, surpassing Sidney Crosby's 75. Laine recorded his first playoff goal in Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild to help the Jets to their first playoff win in franchise history, 3–2. He became the youngest player in Jets history, as well as the youngest Finnish player in the NHL, to score a playoff goal at 19 years 357 days.

After struggling to score at the beginning of the 2018–19 season, putting up only five points in 12 games, Laine recorded his fifth career hat-trick during the 2018 NHL Global Series in his home country, Finland. His hat trick helped the Jets win 4–2 over the Florida Panthers. On 19 November 2018, Laine recorded his sixth hat trick, against the Vancouver Canucks in a 6–3 win. On 24 November 2018, Laine recorded five goals in an 8–4 win over the St. Louis Blues, becoming the first person since Johan Franzén in February 2011 to accomplish that feat, and 45th player to do it. Laine had only five shots in the game, making him the sixth player in NHL history to score five goals on five shots and the first since Wayne Gretzky in 1984. A few days later on 29 November, Laine scored his 100th goal, becoming the fourth-youngest player in NHL history to score 100 regular season goals.

Without contract and as a restricted free agent, Patrik Laine moved to Switzerland to train with SC Bern. However, on 27 September 2019, Laine signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract extension with the Jets. The 2019–20 season, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, was a resurgent one for Laine, who scored 63 points in 68 games for a career high 0.93 points per game. Despite this improvement, however, his wrist was injured in Game 1 of the play-in round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Calgary Flames, and did not return as the Jets were eliminated in four games

was selected with the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. On 3 July 2016, he agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with Winnipeg, signalling the start to his North American career. On 13 October 2016, Laine made his debut in the NHL when he played in the Jets' season-opening game in which Laine got a goal and an assist. On 19 October 2016, Laine scored his first hat-trick in a 5–4 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming, at 18 years, 183 days old, the youngest player born outside North America to score at least twice in one game in NHL history. This record was bested by fellow Finn Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who, at 18 years, 118 days old, scored twice against the Washington Capitals on 1 November 2018. On 8 November 2016, Laine got his second NHL hat-trick. On 7 January 2017, Buffalo Sabres defenceman Jake McCabe hit Laine while he was receiving a pass. As a result, Laine suffered a concussion and missed eight games. Despite his injury, Laine was selected to participate in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. On 14 February 2017, Laine scored his third NHL hat trick. On 21 February 2017, Laine broke the Winnipeg Jets / Atlanta Thrashers franchise record for the most goals in a single season by a rookie, previously held by Ilya Kovalchuk with 29 goals. By the end of the year, Laine had 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points, the second-highest in franchise history for a rookie, next to Dany Heatley who had 67 points (26 goals, 41 assists) as a rookie in 2001–02, and the highest since relocation to Winnipeg.

In Laine's second season with Winnipeg, on 25 February 2018, Laine scored his 30th and 31st goals of the year, making him the seventh teenager in the history of NHL to score consecutive 30-goal seasons. On 6 March 2018, Laine scored his fourth NHL hat-trick in a 3–0 win over the New York Rangers, becoming the third teenager in the history of the NHL to record four three-goal games before their 20th birthday. On 15 March 2018, in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Laine extended his point streak to 14 games, which set a new NHL record for the longest point streak by a teenager in NHL history. His streak ended at 15 games on 20 March 2018 after he failed to collect a point in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. At the conclusion of the 2017–18 regular season, Laine placed second for most goals scored in the regular season with 44, behind Alexander Ovechkin's 49. Despite losing the NHL top goal scorer award, Laine became the first teenager in 30 years to score a total of 80 goals, surpassing Sidney Crosby's 75. Laine recorded his first playoff goal in Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild to help the Jets to their first playoff win in franchise history, 3–2. He became the youngest player in Jets history, as well as the youngest Finnish player in the NHL, to score a playoff goal at 19 years 357 days.

After struggling to score at the beginning of the 2018–19 season, putting up only five points in 12 games, Laine recorded his fifth career hat-trick during the 2018 NHL Global Series in his home country, Finland. His hat trick helped the Jets win 4–2 over the Florida Panthers. On 19 November 2018, Laine recorded his sixth hat trick, against the Vancouver Canucks in a 6–3 win. On 24 November 2018, Laine recorded five goals in an 8–4 win over the St. Louis Blues, becoming the first person since Johan Franzén in February 2011 to accomplish that feat, and 45th player to do it. Laine had only five shots in the game, making him the sixth player in NHL history to score five goals on five shots and the first since Wayne Gretzky in 1984. A few days later on 29 November, Laine scored his 100th goal, becoming the fourth-youngest player in NHL history to score 100 regular season goals.

Without contract and as a restricted free agent, Patrik Laine moved to Switzerland to train with SC Bern. However, on 27 September 2019, Laine signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract extension with the Jets. The 2019–20 season, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, was a resurgent one for Laine, who scored 63 points in 68 games for a career high 0.93 points per game. Despite this improvement, however, his wrist was injured in Game 1 of the play-in round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Calgary Flames, and did not return as the Jets were eliminated in four games.