Patrik Laine has been one of the most talked about players in the NHL this season. The young Finn, who is still only 19-years-old and setting all sorts of teenager records as a result, is in a race for the Rocket Richard trophy for most goals scored in a season. He is currently trailing the player he says he idolized growing up, Alex Ovechkin.
That’s storyline number one for Laine, storyline number two is his ridiculous beard. According to Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun, Laine almost had to chop off the beard (which is apparently the result of a bet he made with his cousin Kimmo Laine based off of who can grow a better chin sweater) after receiving a high stick from Roman Josi. The stick somehow penetrated the straggly beard and opened a deep gash on Laine’s chin, and with talk of Laine needing to get stitches it appeared as though the beard may meet an early grave.
Laine wouldn’t allow it.
The following is an excerpt from the Winnipeg Sun:
“I let them know right away that I’m gonna keep it and don’t touch it,” Laine said Tuesday as the Jets prepared to face off against the Boston Bruins at Bell MTS Place.
“It was pretty much what they had to work with.”
“I didn’t stitch it up so I have no idea how they did that,” he said. “But they are professionals and they did great work with it so they were able to save my beard.
“It was fantastic work.”
The beard has received a wide spectrum of reaction, with some believing he needs to take a razor to it as soon as possible, while others believe it has magical powers that allow the Finnish forward to find the back of the net more often.
No matter where you fall on the matter, the beard lives on. It’s only going to get longer as the Jets secured a spot in the famously bearded NHL playoffs.
(H/T Ted Wyman, Winnipeg Sun)
