Laine's name stood out when national team captain Antti Pennanen's squad for the four-nation tournament in ice hockey was presented on Wednesday evening.
The 26-year-old forward was sensationally good when he debuted in the NHL in 2016, but has had some tough years since then. In January, Patrik Laine was signed into the NHL's support program and took a break from ice hockey for an indefinite period.
This summer, he moved to Montreal but missed the team's first 24 matches before debuting last night and scoring a goal directly.
I talked to my therapist yesterday because I was a little nervous before the match, but just decided to put on my match jersey. It's an achievement in itself after everything that has happened, said Laine to the NHL's website after the match.
Everything that comes after that is just a bonus.
Finland starts the tournament, the first with NHL national teams since the World Championship 2016, against the USA on the night of February 14, Swedish time.
Goalkeepers: Juuse Saaros, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Kevin Lankinen.
Defenders: Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Jani Hakanpää, Niko Mikkola, Olli Määttä, Rasmus Ristolainen, Juuso Välimäki.
Forwards: Sebastian Aho, Aleksander Barkov, Mikko Rantanen, Joel Armia, Mikael Granlund, Erik Haula, Kaapo Kakko, Artturi Lehkonen, Anton Lundell, Patrik Laine, Eetu Luostarinen, Teuvo Teräväinen, Roope Hintz.
