Patrik Laine's partner shares beautiful message to Montreal Canadiens fans on social meida

This off-season has been a wild ride for Patrik Laine, as he was first in the NHLPA's Player Assistance Program, before he was ultimately traded to the Montreal Canadiens, where he would then suffer a significant pre-season injury before he could play his first game with the team.

Throughout this time, Laine has seemingly stayed very positive, as a video emerged of him shortly after the injury enjoying practice with his teammates while on crutches, which is a really good sign. On Wednesday, the team opened the regular season at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and when they showed Laine on the big screen, fans went absolutely crazy.

When this happened, you could tell that Laine was overcome with emotion and tried hard to keep it in, and after the game, his partner shared a message on social media to Canadiens fans, telling them just how much this meant to Laine.

Whether it be in Winnipeg, Columbus or Montreal, Laine has seemingly always been a fan favourite, and with the Canadiens desperately needing a star to lead them forward, it's clear the fans have fallen in love with him there too. During this time, it would be easy for Laine to get down on himself and start feeling very bad about his situation, but this moment from the fans show just how much they care, and with a return date likely in the new year, he'll get an even bigger reception when he takes to the ice.

Canadiens fans and all hockey fans in Canada can sometimes get a bad reputation, but at the end of the day they are all incredibly passionate, and when you see moments like this, it's easy to see why people love hockey and everything the game brings.