Renaud Lavoie raises doubts about Patrik Laine's return with the Canadiens
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Let's just say things aren't looking very good for Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine.
Laine practiced this week like a player who wants to come back and take on a major role with the team (notably on the power play), but it will be very difficult for him to pull that off.
Patrik Laine skated Tuesday, but the Canadiens refuse to sell false hope!
Since October 25, 2025, the organization has been talking about caution and patience. The Montreal Canadiens confirmed surgery for an upper-body injury, with a recovery timeline estimated at three to four months.
That still places a return to play in late January or February, with no promises. What has changed is the atmosphere around him.
There's less of that reflex to say Laine is coming back and everything will fall into place. The club has learned to move forward without him, and the discussion is now more about the lineup than about a date on the calendar.
Renaud Lavoie addressed Patrik Laine's situation during a segment on BPM Sports.
"This is a good question.
It's an extremely important question, because it would be easy for everyone to turn our attention to Patrik Laine and say: 'Yes, we have the solution.'
By saying exactly that: does Patrik Laine fit into the long-term plans?
No, you have to ask yourself the question: is he part of this season's success?
The answer is no." - Renaud Lavoie, on BPM Sports
It's an extremely important question, because it would be easy for everyone to turn our attention to Patrik Laine and say: 'Yes, we have the solution.'
By saying exactly that: does Patrik Laine fit into the long-term plans?
No, you have to ask yourself the question: is he part of this season's success?
The answer is no." - Renaud Lavoie, on BPM Sports
The numbers, meanwhile, remain heavy.
In his first season with the Montreal Canadiens in 2024-2025, Laine played 52 games and produced 20 goals and 13 assists, for 33 points. Over his NHL career, he has totaled 537 games, with 224 goals and 422 points.
That's concrete, and it explains why his name always comes up quickly in the conversation. This 2025-2026 season, he has played only five games, with one assist.
When you come back from such a long absence, you don't just arrive with a label - you arrive with a resume to rebuild, shift by shift. And that's where the real issue lies.
The Canadiens don't want an automatic solution, even if the talent is obvious. We're talking about options, adjustments, and a return that has to happen at the right pace, with the player.
The word "Laval" is circulating, but the idea of a forced decision does not seem to be the plan. The hardest part isn't waiting. It's accepting that Patrik Laine's return brings as many questions as it does hope - and that this is normal.
One thing is certain: it's not looking very good for Laine, and Renaud Lavoie did not have much good news to report on that front.
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