All signs are pointing to Patrik Laine finally making his Montreal Canadiens debut this week — and possibly as soon as tomorrow night.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, the Finnish forward, who has spent the past few months recovering from an injury, shared a photo of himself in front of St. Joseph’s Oratory with the following caption:
“Big week coming up. Hopefully, Father Andre is a hockey fan.”
@patriklaine/Instagram
While he likely meant to write “Brother André,” referencing Montreal’s beloved saint, the first part of the 26-year-old’s story post is likely to get Habs fans pumped for the next stretch of games.
In addition to his personal update, other signs suggest Laine’s long-awaited debut could happen this week.
As of last Monday, the 26-year-old has been spotted at practices wearing a non-contact jersey for the first time since suffering a knee sprain during the preseason. His initial recovery timeline was set at two to three months.
Over the weekend, he joined the Canadiens on their latest road trip, fueling further speculation about his readiness.
Laine, acquired by the Canadiens in an offseason trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, hasn’t played an NHL game since December 2023. During that time, he dealt with a separate injury and participated in the NHLPA’s player assistance program.
While he may need some time to shake off the rust, the Habs—currently sitting second-last in the league standings—are hopeful Laine will bring some much-needed offensive firepower to the lineup. Drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016, the 6-foot-4 winger has tallied 204 goals and 388 points in 480 career NHL games.
As for his promise of a “big week,” Canadiens fans won’t have to wait long to find out. The team has three home games on the calendar, starting Tuesday night against the New York Islanders.
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