Patrik Laine's return to the lineup could force the Canadiens into a tough roster decision
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
We've just learned some sad news involving forward Patrik Laine.
His return to action is genuinely approaching, he'll be ready sooner than expected, and apparently, that wouldn't necessarily make the Canadiens' management very happy. Wow! Poor Laine.
For the past few days, you could already feel that the Canadiens were about to hit a wall.
With a surplus of forwards, management has to respect the 23-player roster limit.
That means a situation has to be resolved, whether people like it or not.
A trade or waivers can quickly become the exit door.
The plan seemed simple: buy time, wait for the injury list to sort things out for you, then breathe a little.
But the schedule shows no mercy when the returns start piling up.
Kirby Dach and Jake Evans are back, Josh Anderson and Kaiden Guhle are in the picture, and now Laine is already skating in a regular jersey.
Patrik Laine's return would reportedly not be well received by Montreal Canadiens management, and that's pretty sad for him
That's where things get tricky.
An early return is good news for the player, but not always for management.
The more you speed up the timeline, the more you force quick decisions, and the higher the risk of losing an asset for nothing.
At a time when the lineup is changing every game, the margin for error becomes extremely small.
The noise around the team even suggests that not everyone is excited to see Laine ahead of schedule.
Not because his talent is in question, but because it complicates the entire puzzle.
When you have too many forwards, every decision sends a message to another player, and that's a delicate situation.
As for Laine, he also has his reasons to push.
He wants to play, he wants to re-establish himself, and he wants to show he can help.
Now it remains to be seen what Martin St-Louis will want to do, game by game.
"Does Martin St. Louis want to see him back in the lineup?
I think the Canadiens would need more injuries to see Patrik Laine again.
Technically, he's ahead of schedule.
At first, we thought he wouldn't return before the Olympic break, but he's already practicing with no restrictions...
But I'm not convinced it makes them happy to see that he's ahead of schedule."
- Jean-François Chaumont
I think the Canadiens would need more injuries to see Patrik Laine again.
Technically, he's ahead of schedule.
At first, we thought he wouldn't return before the Olympic break, but he's already practicing with no restrictions...
But I'm not convinced it makes them happy to see that he's ahead of schedule."
- Jean-François Chaumont
That's quite a statement.
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Lane Hutson reveals what referee Eric Furlatt told him when he went to the penalty box after the missed call
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 21|1514 ANSWERS Patrik Laine's return to the lineup could force the Canadiens into a tough roster decision Should Patrik Laine play immediately upon his return? | ||
| Yes | 516 | 34.1 % |
| No, in the press box | 435 | 28.7 % |
| It's over for him in Montreal | 563 | 37.2 % |
| List of polls | ||