Kent Hughes addresses Patrik Laine's return timeline after skating in Brossard

It was Kent Hughes himself who delivered a clear update on Patrik Laine this Tuesday.

Yes, Laine skated Tuesday morning at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, in full equipment. He took part in shooting drills, but that does not change the next steps of the plan.

During his press conference, Hughes confirmed that Laine is not ahead in his recovery process. His return to play is still scheduled according to the original timeline.

The reason behind this decision is simple and well documented.

Laine underwent surgery on October 25 for a sports hernia, with an announced absence of three to four months.

From a numbers standpoint, Laine had just one assist in five games this season before going down with the injury. He also carried a minus-3 rating. Last year, in his first season with the Montreal Canadiens, he recorded 33 points, including 20 goals, in 52 games.

That explains why fans are watching every practice very closely. Many are eager to see Patrik Laine back in action.

At 27 years old, Laine also carries a significant cap hit. His cap hit is $8.7M, and his 2025-2026 season includes 7.1M in base salary plus a $2.0M signing bonus.

Hughes also revisited Dach's timeline, explaining that the organization is proceeding with extra caution because the fracture is on the same leg as his previous injury.

File to monitor!

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