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No phrase but on his situation after knee-on-knee collision towards Toronto.
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It was a bittersweet second for Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis.
In the course of the latter levels of Monday’s observe on the CN Sports activities Advanced in Brossard, injured winger Patrik Laine hobbled to the group bench — on crutches and together with his left knee closely braced.
Whereas no replace was supplied on Laine’s situation — he was the sufferer of a knee-on-knee collision from Toronto’s Cedric Paré through the first interval of Saturday’s exhibition sport towards the Maple Leafs — it could be shocking if he’s not misplaced for the season with torn ligaments.
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“The saddest factor about what occurred, and what makes it slightly bit tougher with what occurred through the sport, we felt just like the No. 1 job we needed to do is make (Laine) excited to return to the rink. And he was,” St. Louis mentioned. “That’s what’s onerous right now.
“It stings slightly extra. I really feel like he was excited to return to the rink.”
Laine was acquired by the Canadiens in August — together with a 2026 second-round draft selection — from Columbus for defenceman Jordan Harris. At 6-foot-4 and 208 kilos, the 26-year-old Finnish native was anticipated so as to add measurement and much-needed offence to a group that has struggled scoring targets final season.
Laine produced a career-high 44 targets with Winnipeg in 2017-18, his second NHL season, and has scored 20 or extra targets in six of his 9 big-league seasons. He was anticipated to play on Montreal’s second line, with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook. Laine additionally would have acquired appreciable power-play time.
Laine, nevertheless, was restricted to 18 video games final season with the Blue Jackets after fracturing his clavicle in December. He then spent six months within the league’s participant help program to deal with psychological well being points he was experiencing.
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An early-season harm is nothing new for St. Louis or his group, which misplaced Dach two video games into the 2023-24 marketing campaign, with a season-ending knee harm that required surgical procedure. The Canadiens set an NHL file with 720 man-games misplaced to harm in 2021-22, then broke that mark the next season, when 751 man-games had been misplaced.
This has been a recurring drawback that seems to haven’t any resolution.
“I don’t suppose my objective or function has modified,” St. Louis mentioned. “We’re delusional if we predict we’re going to go 82 video games with the identical 23 guys. It’s a tough league. Different groups are going to face the identical factor. You’ve simply to maintain going. Should you change your outlook based mostly on one thing you possibly can’t management, you’re not going to maintain going.
“You may’t change what occurred, and that’s how it’s with all the pieces.”
There additionally was no replace on injured defenceman David Reinbacher, chosen fifth total by Montreal in 2023, who was checked onerous into the boards by Toronto’s Marshall Rifai, seconds after the opening faceoff. Reinbacher fell awkwardly and appeared to twist his left knee.
The accidents depart the Canadiens with 15 forwards, 9 defencemen and three goaltenders heading into Tuesday evening’s dwelling exhibition sport towards Ottawa (7 p.m., TSN2, TSN5, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). St. Louis and his assistants undoubtedly will probably be monitoring the scenario carefully, watching which gamers seize these alternatives with at the very least one, if not two, openings created.
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“We get again to inner competitors,” St. Louis mentioned. “Not simply new gamers, common guys which can be right here. Veterans.”
Nonetheless, one newcomer who would possibly profit is 21-year-old rookie ahead Oliver Kapanen, who was born in Sweden however represents Finland internationally. Chosen within the second spherical (sixty fourth total) by the Canadiens in 2021, the 6-foot-1, 194 pounder have to be returned to Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League if he doesn’t crack Montreal’s roster. Kapanen signed a two-year contract with Timrå final Might.
“In fact it’s on my thoughts,” Kapanen admitted. “It’s annoying nevertheless it’s not one thing that I take into consideration — the place I’m going to play and what’s going to occur. I attempt not to consider that an excessive amount of on and off the ice. I simply wish to stay within the second and provides my finest right here. We’ll see what’s going to occur after that.”
Kapanen believes he’s prepared for the rigours of NHL play and that his sport’s fitted to North America. He believes he’s taking part in nicely and with confidence, however famous a return to Europe would at the very least present him with appreciable ice time.
Whereas St. Louis likes what he has seen from Kapanen in two weeks, he stopped in need of guaranteeing him a roster place.
“Is he bodily and mentally prepared?” the coach questioned. “Do we want what he brings? There are such a lot of issues that come into play. It’s not only one factor. To this point, I like what I’ve seen.”
In the meantime, winger Josh Anderson (remedy day) didn’t observe on Monday. Defenceman Kaiden Guhle, who had his appendix eliminated, participated in a non-contact jersey.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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