Last-minute surprise in Brossard for the Canadiens as two key players hit the ice

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Patrik Laine did, in fact, jump on the ice in Brossard Tuesday morning, and it's starting to smell like a return to play. More than an hour before the Montreal Canadiens' practice, Laine was already on the ice at 9 a.m., in full equipment.

The team practice was scheduled for 10:30 a.m., so the timing is no coincidence. The detail that really catches the eye is who he was with. Laine skated with Adam Nicholas, and not with a conditioning specialist.

For many, that's the kind of clue that points to another step forward in the process.

Laine is 27 years old, and his contract continues to draw attention, as he earns $8.7 million per season through the summer of 2026.

When a player with that kind of salary is missing from the lineup, it has an impact. From a numbers standpoint, Laine has already proven that he can produce.

The Canadiens haven't confirmed anything publicly about what comes next, but simply seeing him in action like this changes the atmosphere around the team.

There is still an important nuance to keep in mind. Being on the ice in full gear is encouraging, but it's not confirmation. The next step is to see if he joins the group (and when he joins the group), and then how the Club will manage the situation day by day.

We also received another surprise from Brossard, as Kaiden Guhle rejoined the group wearing a regular jersey. In his case, everything indicates that his return is imminent as we await confirmation from the team.

For now, Montreal got what it wanted: concrete signs from both Patrik Laine and Kaiden Guhle.

Story to follow!

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