Armia providing Laine some familiarity in Montreal
Patrik Laine is the new guy in town, but thankfully for him, Joel Armia is a familiar face from his time in Winnipeg.
Patrik Laine is the new guy for the Montreal Canadiens this season, and surely he has been welcomed by his new teammates.
Fortunately for him, Joel Armia is a guy who goes way back with him, and his fellow countrymen give him some comfort. So, while Laine is getting used to his new digs, he has his former Jets buddy to drive him around and acclimate to hockey-crazy Montreal. Which was how the Finn got to the Habs golf tournament Monday morning.
Patrik Laine and Joel Armia arrive together at #Habs golf tournament at Laval-sur-le-Lac pic.twitter.com/JPcXyXGMvH
— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) September 16, 2024
Laine had some of his most productive years, both in 2016-17 and 2017-18 when he scored 36 goals and 44 goals. Both of those years, Armia was in Winnipeg and it gave Laine a sense of comfort when he was finding his way in a different country, on top of it being the best league in the world. So, hopefully, Laine can benefit some more from the familiarity and friendship with Armia.
Armia, Laine two peas in a pod
With Laine confident and prepared for a big season, you would have to think that having a familiar face around to adjust to his new digs will be huge. Armia can provide Laine with guidance and knowledge of what it's like to play in such a passionate hockey market. For Laine, who wishes to get his career back on track, he surely wants to be in the middle of such a diehard market, but Armia can help him when things inevitably get tough.
“If there are a few Finns on the team, usually you’ll see them together, especially early on. I think with Armia it’s nice to see. He knows that Patrik is in a new situation here & he probably just wants to try to guide him here.”
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) September 16, 2024
- Coach Marty St. Louis on Patrik Laine getting… pic.twitter.com/J0yjLec7X4
Laine is no longer an 18-19-year-old kid, so he doesn't need to be taught how to act around NHL players. But having a friend, especially one from the same country as him to talk to and adjust to life in another new city is a huge asset. Hopes are that Laine can have a resurgent season, and being comfortable could go a long way in helping him achieve the success that he had been used to.
I can't imagine that Laine could have come into a better situation than Montreal, where development is a top priority. Another positive for Laine is the fact that the Canadiens are trying to get better each day, so while there is pressure, everybody has a common goal. Habs head coach Martin St. Louis seems intent on helping Laine get back to the level he knows he is capable of, and he has done a great job getting the best out of each player that he's coached, so belief is high.
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