“No one knows if Patrik Laine will play another game with the Canadiens.”

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
“No one knows if Patrik Laine will play another game with the Canadiens.”
Credit: Screenshot / X

Over the past week, the subject of injuries has received a lot of attention.

After all, we know that with the return of the injured, there was the potential for congestion. Taking guys out of the line-up has always been a possibility, then. But…

But we've often said that there was a chance that further injuries would mean that decisions would take care of themselves. And with Alexandre Texier taking it day by day, that's what's happening right now. #EverythingFallsTooWellInPlace

So how does it look right now?

The Habs have two goalies (Jakub Dobes will play tonight, by the way) and seven healthy defensemen. Tonight, it's Arber Xhekaj who'll skip his turn, but normally, it's Jayden Struble.

What about the forwards? With Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, and Kirby Dach (tonight) all returning in the last few days, the list of injured players is bound to get slimmer and slimmer.

Alex Newhook is far from a return, Patrik Laine is close , and Alexandre Texier is day-to-day. Samuel Blais has been sidelined for the past few days but is in good health.

So, in the short term, the “problem” of too many forwards (I'm not sure that, internally, depth is seen as a huge problem) has been postponed. And at some point, group health permitting, decisions will be made.

And that's where we turn to Patrik Laine, who may lack the space to play on the top-6 and isn't really built to play on the other lines. Will he be placed in the showcase at some point? Perhaps.

And if the Canadiens can't find a place for him, it's not impossible to think that the Finn could be traded. His wife isn't ruling out the possibility, in any case.

Eric Engels, who was asked about Patrik Laine's future in Montreal on the Sick Podcast, isn't even sure he'll play another game with the Montreal team.

We're not necessarily saying that Laine will be traded, sent to the Rocket, injured longer or whatever: it's also possible that it will simply be difficult to get him into the lineup, plain and simple.

Engels is right: the simple fact of not knowing whether Laine will regain his place in the lineup speaks volumes.

Laine has been skating with the regulars for the past few days. Let's not forget that there are eight games (about two weeks) left before the Olympic break.

And finally, it would be surprising if Laine, who is at the end of his contract, were in Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes' plans for the 2026-2027 campaign.

That said, if Laine and the Habs are put in a situation where he can help push for the playoffs, the future won't matter: he'll get playing time.

It's just that right now, it's hard to see such a scenario taking shape.


overtime

– Kirby Dach can't wait to play with NiCole again.

– The #77 on the powerplay tonight.

– To be continued.

– He just won't stop.

– Montreal not a likely destination for Blake Coleman.

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