Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine has faced a troubling series of challenges in recent years, most notably a knee injury that sidelined him from debuting with his new team.
The Need for Patience
On a positive note, Laine’s recovery has been shorter than a full year, which is encouraging for the team, especially considering the typical injury updates from Montreal. Now that he is skating with some of the team’s regulars, the Canadiens can begin to anticipate the effect of his return on their lineup. Renaud Lavoie mentioned that Laine might be ready to play before the end of November, but the best approach is to exercise patience. Injuries to the knees can be complicated, and there’s no need to rush Laine back into action.
Laine’s Potential Impact on the Lineup
If Laine can find his rhythm, there are plenty of options for where he could be placed in the lineup. Despite the widespread belief that he has struggled to score in recent years, Laine has managed to net 66 goals in 175 games over the past four seasons.
While we shouldn’t expect him to be a consistent scorer right away, his ability to score could benefit all lines, particularly the first line centered by Nick Suzuki.
With that consideration, it would be wise to match Laine against slightly less challenging opponents initially, possibly placing him on the second or third lines. This would ease some pressure on Martin St-Louis, providing a reliable scoring option for the second line, where Kirby Dach needs to return in order to develop into a centre capable of making a significant nightly impact.
It’s also important to note that Laine hasn’t played since 2023, which, like Dach, means he may need multiple games to regain his form. There’s even a chance that half a season might not suffice to get Laine fully up to speed, but since the Canadiens are not realistically in the playoff chase, they can afford to give him the time he needs to round out the season.
Providing ample opportunities will not only enhance his play but will also significantly benefit his mental well-being, which is a crucial issue for all athletes, particularly for Laine and his fiancée, who advocate for mental health awareness.
The real challenge for Laine will come next season, making the remaining games of 2024-25 an extended opportunity for him to gradually shake off the lingering effects of injuries from previous seasons.
