Acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in August along with a second-round pick in the 2025 draft in exchange for Jordan Harris, the Finnish forward will be out for 2 to 3 months due to a sprained right knee.
Some Canadiens fans are urging Kent Hughes to seek a replacement for number 92, at least until the holidays.
Pierre LeBrun recently spoke with Hughes about the possibility of a trade, but the response was unclear. According to DansLesCoulisses, the Canadiens’ GM is not currently engaging with other teams in the NHL.
LeBrun, who inquired about whether Hughes was looking to add another forward during this interim, noted that Hughes is open to the right deal but is not under pressure to act. If a player like Jakob Pelletier were to hit NHL waivers, it would be surprising if Hughes didn’t consider bringing him in. Additionally, Trevor Zegras is still on the trade market, although Hughes feels no urgent need to make a move.
LeBrun shared this insight during an episode of the Radar podcast, which you can watch below.
Had Laine been ruled out for the entire season, the team’s response would likely have been different.
This situation demonstrates that the Canadiens have faith in their current forwards to temporarily fill Laine’s void, signaling a depth that wasn’t previously present.
It remains to be seen which forward Martin St. Louis will select to replace the Finnish player during his absence.
