MONTREAL — Patrik Laine’s long-awaited Montreal Canadiens debut — and first game in nearly a year — has arrived.
The Finnish winger is back from a knee injury as the Canadiens host the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
“It's been a long road with a lot of ups and maybe more downs so far, like the last couple years,” Laine said. “Just excited and thankful to put on this jersey, and just being out there with the fellas, finally.
“It'll be awesome."
Laine, who has practised with the team for two weeks, took rushes on Montreal’s second line with Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky during Tuesday's morning skate at the Bell Centre.
The Canadiens sent forward Joshua Roy down to minor-league affiliate Laval on Monday to pave the way for Laine’s highly anticipated return.
"Couldn't really sleep. That was weird,” Laine said. “Might have something to do with a little excitement today.
“I was kind of hoping I could start playing at home. I probably could have played last week, but just wanted to get some more practices in and make sure I'm ready to go … been watching too many games (from) upstairs now.”
The former 44-goal scorer joined the Canadiens via trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets last summer, injecting energy into a playoff-deprived fan base.
A devastating knee-on-knee collision with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Cédric Paré in pre-season play on Sept. 28 abruptly dampened that excitement. But after opting against surgery on his left knee sprain, Laine will suit up in a regular-season game for the first time in Montreal.
It’s also his first game since breaking his clavicle as a member of the Blue Jackets on Dec. 14.
The 26-year-old entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Jan. 28 to prioritize his mental health and was cleared to return on July 26, three weeks before his trade to Montreal.
“He was excited for sure, you felt the excitement from the fans, but he was excited too,” head coach Martin St. Louis said. “I know it was short-lived, and I think he’s excited again tonight. I think he had an opportunity to really see how we want to play and I’m sure when he’s watching games from the top he can see himself in our concepts.”
St. Louis said he kept Laine involved while he was out by including him in pre-scout meetings before games.
Laine’s return lands at a much-needed time for Montreal. The Canadiens (8-13-3) were last in the Atlantic Division, 31st in the NHL and riding a two-game losing streak before Tuesday’s action.
On offence, Montreal ranked 21st in goals per game (2.83) and last in shots per game (24.0) — both categories Laine should help improve. The six-foot-four, 208-pound sharpshooter has 204 goals and 1,390 shots in 480 games.
Along with playing on the second line, Laine will also feature on the Canadiens’ top power-play unit. He said he’ll have to temper his own expectations.
“I probably expect as soon as I jump on the ice to start off where I left,” he said. “It might happen, it might not happen. I don't know. Nobody knows.
“Haven't played too much hockey lately, so got to be patient, give myself some time but hopefully it'll be like riding a bike.”
Laine forms a towering line with Dach (six-foot-four) and Slafkovsky (six-foot-three), two players mired in slumps. St. Louis hoped Laine’s return could spark all three players.
“It’s kind of like an early Christmas present, we’re all excited to have him back,” Dach said. “It’ll definitely be fun to go out there and play with him tonight.”
Laine scored his career-high 44 goals in 2017-18 with the Winnipeg Jets, who drafted him second overall in 2016, but he hasn’t surpassed 30 since 2018-19 partially due to a string of injuries.
He already got a taste of Montreal’s fanfare. Laine’s first touch of the puck in a pre-season game against Philadelphia on Sept. 23 generated a frenzy in the crowd.
At the Canadiens’ season-opener, the Bell Centre showered Laine, standing by Montreal’s bench with crutches by his side, with some of the loudest cheers of the evening.
He expected more of the same before taking the ice Tuesday night.
"If somebody plays here and doesn't get fired up, I think there's something wrong with them, so I don't think that should be an issue,” Laine said. “The crowd will be buzzing as always, and hopefully as we play and with the way we play tonight, we're going to excite them even more.
“Try to give them something to cheer for, I guess."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024.
Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
