Patrik Laine Cheers On Friend Aleksander Barkov During Stanley Cup Final — But Makes It Clear He’s Committed to Montreal
Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine was among the many NHL stars in attendance at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday night, watching Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.
But Laine wasn’t there as a rival or competitor—he was simply a proud friend supporting fellow Finn and longtime companion Aleksander Barkov, who captained the Panthers to their second straight Stanley Cup championship.
Florida sealed the title with a commanding 5-1 victory, taking the series 4-2. With the win, Barkov made NHL history as the first European captain to lead his team to two Stanley Cup wins.
Laine, clearly thrilled for Barkov, shared a video on Instagram capturing the emotional moment NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman handed over the Cup. The video showed Barkov lifting the trophy amid roaring cheers from the home crowd and his teammates.
After the game, the two Finnish stars shared a celebratory moment backstage, posing for a photo together. Barkov, still in his postgame gear, wore the champagne stains and remnants of a raucous locker room celebration with pride.
However, what really sparked conversation was an offhand comment from Laine as he exited the arena. When a Panthers fan joked that he should join Barkov in Florida, Laine replied with a grin, “I think I’m good in Montreal, we beat you 4 times in the regular season.” Even the fan who relayed the story admitted they had to respect the confident comeback.
At 27, Laine is signed with the Canadiens through 2026, carrying a cap hit of $8.7 million per year. Despite battling injuries that limited him to 52 games this past season, he still posted 33 points, including 20 goals—proof that his scoring touch remains a threat.
All indications suggest that Laine will continue to play a key role in Montreal’s plans moving forward.
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