David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine has had a week.
On Dec. 3, the 26-year-old made his anticipated Canadiens debut after suffering a lower-body injury in pre-season.
He started his Montreal career off with a bang, sniping New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin just 7:23 into the game on the power play of what became a 2-1 overtime victory.
The Bell Centre went ballistic:
“That was the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” Laine told reporters post-game. “It’s like, I don’t deserve this, like not at all. But, it will be something for sure that I’ll remember forever. That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Then, on Dec. 5, Team Finland announced Laine made their roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Laine actually found out he had made the team before his first game of the season, which made Finland’s decision even more interesting.
“I just appreciate the trust that they had to name me and to know that I’ll be dialed in a couple months when the tournaments starts,” Laine told reporters following the announcement.
Later on that night, Laine found the back of the net for the second time in as many games, scoring against the Nashville Predators on their power play in front of the Montreal faithful:
Although Laine went scoreless in Montreal’s 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals, it’s been an exciting start to his season.
The question is, can Laine regain his star status by the end of the season, or has he never lost it?
It’s been a whirlwind for Laine since he broke into the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets in 2016 after being selected second overall that year.
Laine immediately made an impact with the Jets, scoring 36, 44, and 30 goals in his first three NHL seasons. But in the fourth year, there seemed to be some tension in Winnipeg, leading to him being dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets after playing just one game in the 2020-21 season.
He, along with right winger Jack Roslovic, headed to Columbus in exchange for center Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 third-round pick.
In Columbus, Laine struggled to be the player he once was due to injuries and absences.
Following his first season with the Blue Jackets in the shortened 2021 campaign, he played 56, 55 and 18 games, respectfully, over his next three seasons there, with 26 goals and 56 points (2021-22) being his Columbus high. He also had 52 points in 2022-23 for nearly a point per game.
After his first season there, Laine and the Blue Jackets agreed to terms on a four-year extension worth $34.8 million, $8.7 million annually.
Things took a turn for the worse when Laine was benched often in games last season by former Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent.
Then, on Nov. 19, against the Philadelphia Flyers, Laine was a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career, which he called “embarrassing.”
A month later, Laine found himself out of the lineup for what was expected to be six weeks with a broken clavicle after suffering the injury in a 6-5 overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a game in which he scored.
But instead of a six-week absence, Laine missed the rest of the season after he checked himself into the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program to work on the mental side of the game.
While in the program, he told the Columbus brass that he’d like a change of scenery, a fresh start elsewhere.
His contract was tough to move, given its high value and questions about his health.
But the Canadiens bit, acquiring Laine and a 2026 second-round pick in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris, with Columbus not retaining any money.
Now, healthy and happy with his life and his game, the NHL is getting the Laine who found himself on the highlight reel most nights early in his NHL career.
While the Canadiens are struggling, currently in the basement of the Eastern Conference, the star is starting to shine again, even if it’s a small sample size.
And it won’t take Laine long for the NHL to realize he’s back, better than ever.
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