from Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com,

Patrik Laine's presence is everywhere in this city.

The Columbus Blue Jackets forward is being used heavily to promote the 2022 NHL Global Series against the Colorado Avalanche, his face all over billboards and television.

Walk into almost any bar in the city and there will be a Laine jersey, often signed, hanging on the wall, be it a Blue Jackets jersey or one from the Winnipeg Jets, his first NHL team. Some bars even have the blue-and-orange jersey from Tappara, the team in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland, that Laine played for before heading to the NHL.

Go to perhaps the most famous wing place in the city, Hook Restaurant, and there is Laine on the menu with Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov, his co-creator of the hat-trick, a dish that includes 33 chicken wings and waffle fries.

"Not everyone has a dish named for them," Laine said with a laugh.

There have been a lot of laughs this week for the 24-year-old, who is reveling in the opportunity to be in his home country during the NHL regular season, a rarity since he was selected by the Jets with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

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