Jets' Laine pens love letter to Winnipeg: 'These are my people now'

Amid another excellent season, Patrik Laine is embracing his status as Winnipeg's favorite son.

Laine submitted a standout rookie campaign in 2016-2017, scoring 36 goals and 64 points, taking the league by storm with his devastating release.

The 19-year-old is following up his debut season by featuring as a key component of a Jets team that's battling for top spot in the Central Division.

In an essay titled "Winnipeg Is Good" for The Players' Tribune, Laine expressed gratitude to his adopted city.

"Other than destroying Nik Ehlers in Call of Duty, I think the best thing to happen to me last year was falling in love with Winnipeg," Laine wrote.

"I mean, I heard some guys talking bad about the city and that Winnipeg was not a good place. What do they know? I love Winnipeg. This is my home. These are my people now. I play for them. It's a great, great city. Everyone who lives here really cares about one another, that's what stands out to me. We are one group, all of us. Everybody is your neighbor."

Selected second overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, Laine was considered a vital piece of the Jets' future and he's exceeded some of the loftiest projections during the early stages of his promising career.

After missing the playoffs last season, Laine is clearly embracing the challenge of leading a sleeping contender into battle with the playoffs speeding toward the horizon.

"Yeah, things are good in Winnipeg right now. People are happy around the rink and the season is going well so far. Last year was tough. Everyone was saying I should be happy with how I played and stuff. But, like, I don't care about that. I want to win. That's is the only reason I play hockey - or even CoD. I want to beat you. We didn't do that enough last year. Now we're winning, and I'm loving it and so is the city."

Laine was destined for stardom in Winnipeg and has been embraced by the city from the minute he was drafted. After starring for the Jets before his 20th birthday, it's clear Laine knows he's on his way to cementing his status in city lore.

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