Patrik Laine will make his long-awaited regular-season debut with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday after lacking the previous two months with a knee damage.
Montreal made the roster transfer official by eradicating Laine from long-term injured reserve. Laine was noticed taking rushes on the Canadiens’ second line with Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky throughout morning skate forward of Montreal’s sport towards the New York Islanders.
Montreal acquired Laine — together with a second-round decide within the 2026 NHL draft — from Columbus in August for defenseman Jordan Harris following Laine’s request to be traded out of the Blue Jackets group.
Laine was skating in his second preseason sport for Montreal in September when he collided knee-on-knee with Toronto Maple Leafs’ ahead Cedric Pare. Whereas Laine stated on the time the damage “might have been a lot worse,” it nonetheless set him up for a two-to-three-month restoration, the most recent in an extended line of prolonged absences.
Laine, 26, was restricted to simply 18 video games final season whereas rehabbing a damaged clavicle after which whereas spending time within the NHL/NHLPA Participant Help Program from January to July. That makes Tuesday’s outing the primary regular-season sport for Laine in nearly one year.
He has had some type of damage practically yearly for the reason that Winnipeg Jets chosen him second general within the 2016 NHL draft. Regardless of that historical past Laine made essentially the most of his time in Columbus, averaging some extent per sport over two seasons from 2021-23.
Montreal was meant to be a recent begin although. Now it lastly will be.
“It is nearly been a 12 months since my final actual sport,” Laine stated. “I am largely excited, lastly get this factor over with, simply be again on the ice with the blokes, so I am simply pleased about it.”
Laine hoped he’d get to come back again at house in entrance of Canadiens’ followers and feed off that vitality.
“If anyone performs [at the Bell Centre] and would not get fired up, I feel there’s one thing improper with them,” he stated. “So, I do not assume that must be a difficulty. I feel the group can be buzzing as at all times, and hopefully, as we play, and with the best way that we play tonight, we will excite them much more.”
Mockingly, Laine’s return will not be the one homecoming Tuesday. Patrick Roy — the Canadiens Corridor of Fame goaltender — can be behind the Islanders’ bench attempting to beat his former workforce. However even with that star-wattage round, all eyes can be on Laine to see how all of his arduous work is paying off.
“The entire metropolis, the entire group, Habs followers have been simply fantastic all through this complete factor; I am tremendous grateful for that,” Laine stated. “The teaching workers have included me in stuff, like watching video and getting my enter on some issues and maintain me concerned. It is not straightforward, guys are on the street and also you’re remoted a bit however they did an excellent job [keeping me involved] and I am tremendous grateful for that.”
