To everyone's surprise, Patrik Laine showed up, much like Kirby Dach did last year. It's clear he really wants to be involved.
He is obviously hurt, on crutches with his knee heavily protected. It doesn't look good for his injury, but it's a different story for his morale.
For a player who is coming back from a long way like him and who has missed a lot of hockey, working hard to get back to his peak form and then getting hurt like this, realizing he will miss even more time is never easy.
We know that the Canadiens are well-equipped to help Patrik in this situation, just like they did for Kirby Dach last year. Seeing him at practice like this brings back good memories under the circumstances.
Kirby Dach was very involved off the ice, in meetings and practices. He was even present during games at the Bell Centre. In short, he was part of the team's environment, and his opinion mattered.
Patrik Laine could do the same, making his recovery more enjoyable. Let's be honest, he won't be back in the game quickly; that's quite clear.