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Canadiens forward Laine spotted skating this morning

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Nov 9 2024, 6:44 pm
Canadiens forward Laine spotted skating this morning

The struggling Montreal Canadiens desperately need some good news, and they got just that this morning.

Patrik Laine, who suffered a knee sprain in exhibition play, was spotted skating this morning. It’s believed to be the first time he has hit the ice since suffering the injury.

Canadiens fans were quite excited about the addition of Laine, acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets this summer. It seemed like a no-brainer move for the Habs, who also received a 2026 second-round pick in the deal while moving out defenceman Jordan Harris.

Though Laine had struggled in recent years and missed the majority of the 2023-24 season as he sought help from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, it felt like a smart bet to make, given his potential.

Unfortunately, Laine’s fresh start quickly turned ugly as he took an ugly hit from Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Pare. It was clear immediately that the injury was a serious one.

As ugly as it appeared, the worst-case scenario was avoided, as the Habs announced that the injury would not require surgery. Instead, he was expected to miss roughly two to three months.

The fact Laine is already back skating suggests he’s doing quite well in his recovery, as the injury was suffered in late September. He still clearly has a ways to go before returning to game action, but today was an obvious step in the right direction.

The Canadiens could certainly use the three-time 30-goal scorer, as they have been one of the NHL’s worst teams thus far with a 4-8-2 record. A lack of goals has played a big part in that, as they’ve found the back of the net just 38 times thus far.

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