The Canadiens’ Patrik Laine and his spouse have each expressed how a lot they love Montreal and would love to remain right here past this season.
Don’t anticipate that to occur now.
The Canadiens introduced Saturday that Laine might be sidelined for 3-4 months after having surgical procedure to restore a core muscle damage. The surgical procedure was carried out by Dr. Mark Zoland on the Lennox Hill Hospital in New York.
Laine missed the final 4 video games with what the Canadiens mentioned was a lower-body damage, including he was day-to-day. It was then reported Laine went for a second medical opinion on his damage and he didn’t be part of his teammates on a four-game Western highway journey that began Wednesday evening with a 2-1 time beyond regulation win over the Flames in Calgary.
Laine was seen exterior the Canadiens’ locker room following Monday evening’s 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on the Bell Centre speaking with Jeff Gorton, the president of hockey operations, and normal supervisor Kent Hughes. Laine was noticeably limping after when he headed to the parking storage.
The 27-year-old Laine is within the remaining season of his contract with a US$8.4 million salary-cap hit that makes him the second-highest paid participant on the Canadiens behind defenceman Noah Dobson, who has a US$9.5 million cap hit.
Laine labored arduous all summer season, skating nearly on daily basis on the CN Sports activities Complicated in Brossard, to prepare for this season. His work ethic was good through the 5 video games he performed, however he had issues maintaining with the fast-paced system head coach Martin St. Louis has put in place. Laine had just one help within the 5 video games and was minus-3 whereas averaging solely 12:36 of ice time per sport taking part in on the fourth line.
Hughes took a low-risk gamble when he acquired Laine from Columbus in the summertime of 2024,
together with a second-round choose on the 2026 NHL Draft, in trade for defenceman Jordan Harris, who signed with the Boston Bruins as a free agent this summer season after taking part in just one season with the Blue Jackets, posting 1-4-5 totals in 33 video games.
Laine had performed solely 18 video games the earlier season with the Blue Jackets, posting 6-3-9 totals, earlier than struggling a damaged left clavicle throughout a sport in mid-December that required surgical procedure and, a month later, he entered the NHL/NHLPA participant help program whereas coping with mental-health points.
Laine sprained his left knee throughout a pre-season sport final season and missed the primary 24 video games of the common season. Laine determined to not have surgical procedure on his knee after getting a second after which third opinion from medical doctors. When he returned to the Canadiens, Laine scored eight targets in his first 9 video games, all on the ability play, because the staff posted a 6-3-0 report. He completed the season with 20-13-33 totals in 52 video games — with 15 of his targets on the ability play — because the Canadiens made the playoffs for the primary time in 4 years. Laine was additionally minus-14.
On the finish of the season, Hughes famous the Canadiens wouldn’t have made the playoffs with out Laine’s offensive manufacturing.
At coaching camp this 12 months, Laine spoke about how he fell in love with hockey once more final season.
“The town … the group … the followers … I believe that performed an enormous a part of it,” he mentioned. “This group is simply so fantastic, beginning with the proprietor, the Molsons, and going all the way in which down. I believe it’s simply such a household sort of group that it’s a privilege for us to be part of it. And, clearly, taking part in in most likely the most effective place on Earth to play hockey. I believe if that doesn’t get you fired as much as play hockey then you definitely most likely must be doing one thing else. I believe it was only a mixture of these issues and, clearly, the work I’ve completed for myself to having the ability to take pleasure in hockey once more. Hockey’s enjoyable once more, so it’s nice.”
When requested about it being the final 12 months of his contract and wanting to remain in Montreal, Laine mentioned: “We’ve principally simply targeted on this 12 months. All that stuff will come, finally. Now, it’s simply targeted on taking part in. I’ve probably not had too many discussions like that. I believe I’ve been fairly open publicly and in every single place about it that I find it irresistible right here and this group is one thing I undoubtedly need to be part of for a very long time. However you by no means know the way these items occur, however we’ll cross that bridge once we get to it.”
Laine can develop into an unrestricted free agent subsequent summer season.
scowan@postmedia.com
x.com/StuCowan1
Associated
Habs Mailbag: Jakub Dobes passing eye check as Canadiens’ No. 1 goalie
Stu’s Slapshots: Sports activities got here naturally to Canadiens’ Noah Dobson
