Big News Out of Montreal On Patrik Laine's Status

21 hours ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors

 For the first time since the brutal injury that knocked him out of a preseason game delaying his debut with his new team for months, Patrik Laine has donned a regular practice jersey for the Montreal Canadiens, indicating his return is much closer than originally believed. Patrik Laine with a regular jersey on this morning. @CanadiensMTL— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) November 25, 2024 When Laine went down with the troubling knee injury, it was thought he'd miss a large chunk of the season and that his return was a long ways away. We're not even out of November, and it appears his return is imminent. With his shot looking to be in fine form, according to TSN reporter Kenzie Lalonde, Laine was able to spend time at practice skating in rotation with top liners Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook. Head coach Martin St. Louis says that Laine likely won't play during the Habs' three-game road trip later this week, but next week is a distinct possibility for his return.Teammate David Savard is thrilled to have Laine (almost) back. "It's nice to have him back with us. It can feel like a long time when you're not practicing with the team, you don't see the guys as much. We've made an effort to keep him involved as much as possible during team meetings, but it's tougher when we're on the road. But it's great to see him and to know he's close to returning to play."It's a long time coming for the former No. 2 overall selection (2016 NHL Draft), as he hasn't suited up in an NHL regular season game since last Dec. 14th, while in the midst of a troubling final year with the Columbus Blue Jackets that saw him land in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The 26-year-old began his career with the Winnipeg Jets with three consecutive 30+ goal seasons, registering 138 goals in his first 305 NHL games. The last few years in Columbus were marked by injuries and a drop-off in production, but his offseason trade to Montreal this past summer offered him a fresh start. That's now on the verge of becoming a reality. Photo: © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images...

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