Just when the Montreal Canadiens were starting to build momentum, disaster has struck — and it’s a big one. In a stunning twist that’s left fans and analysts speechless, Patrick Laine has been ruled out for up to four months after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia, throwing both his season and his future with the team into chaos.
The news hit like a punch to the gut. Laine, once heralded as a franchise savior and a potential cornerstone of Montreal’s offensive resurgence, is now facing another uphill battle — and for a player whose career has already been marred by injuries, this setback could not have come at a worse time.
The 26-year-old sniper, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has barely had the chance to show what he can do in a Canadiens sweater. After managing just one point in five games, fans were already growing restless. But beyond the box scores, Laine’s presence on the ice — his power-play prowess, his ability to draw defenders, and his lethal shot — gave Montreal a dimension they’ve sorely lacked.
Now, all of that is gone.
“It’s devastating,” one team insider admitted. “He was just starting to find his rhythm again. This changes everything.”
And it truly does. The Canadiens’ power play ranks 22nd in the NHL, and Laine’s absence leaves a gaping hole on the right flank. Head coach Martin St. Louis now faces the impossible task of retooling his forward lines while keeping the team afloat in a brutal Eastern Conference playoff race.
But the ripple effects go beyond the ice. With the trade deadline approaching on March 6, general manager Kent Hughes finds himself in an agonizing dilemma:
👉 Hold onto Laine and hope for a miraculous return just before the postseason push?
👉 Or explore trade options while his name still carries value — even injured — to teams desperate for scoring depth?
Adding to the drama, Laine’s injury history has now become impossible to ignore. Once viewed as an elite pure goal scorer, his career has been repeatedly interrupted by nagging health issues, robbing him of consistency and rhythm.
“You have to wonder if this is the breaking point,” a veteran scout told TSN. “How many comebacks can one guy have before it’s too late?”
For the Canadiens, the timing couldn’t be worse. With young stars like Slafkovský and Suzuki stepping up, Laine’s absence not only hurts the current roster — it complicates long-term planning. If this was meant to be his “prove-it” season, it’s quickly becoming the opposite.
Still, in true Montreal fashion, the fanbase is clinging to hope. Laine has defied odds before — returning stronger, sharper, and hungrier. Whether that next comeback happens in a Canadiens jersey or somewhere else, only time will tell.
🔥 For now, one thing’s clear: the Canadiens’ season just took a brutal hit — and the future of one of hockey’s most polarizing stars hangs in the balance.
