What If Patrik Laine Stayed Healthy with the Canadiens?

The 2024-25 season started with high expectations for Patrik Laine. His move to the Montreal Canadiens in a late August trade promised to reshape his career. Laine was eager for a fresh start after a challenging few years with the Columbus Blue Jackets. These included injuries and personal matters. The Canadiens, a team in a rebuilding phase, viewed Laine as a potential cornerstone in their offensive future. They offered him the opportunity to play a top-six role and see plenty of power-play minutes. But the optimism surrounding his arrival quickly faded when disaster struck in late September.

The Optimism of a Fresh Start

Montreal fans were pleased after Laine’s acquisition from Columbus. Defenseman Jordan Harris moved in the other direction. Laine was motivated to return to form. The previous season, he had missed significant time due to a fractured clavicle and a stint in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The 26-year-old winger was cleared to play for Montreal’s training camp. He showed promise in his early practices with his new teammates. In 18 games with Columbus in 2023-24, Laine scored six goals and added three assists, including a pair of power-play points. Those numbers were far from spectacular, but they showcased a player capable of generating offense when healthy.

Laine was expected to impact Montreal’s top-six forward unit immediately. The hope was that the combination of his scoring touch and a fresh opportunity would see him hit the 50-point mark. He accomplished this in four of the previous five seasons. Laine stood as a veteran leader with the Canadiens’ rebuilding plans relying heavily on youthful talent. He brought experience and offensive firepower to a team looking to progress in the Eastern Conference.

The Injury That Changed Everything

But Laine’s fresh start was shattered just days before the season opener. In a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he took a knee-on-knee hit that left him visibly shaken. The injury, initially feared to be severe, was later diagnosed as a knee sprain. The good news was that surgery wouldn’t be required. But the bad news was that Laine was expected to miss at least 2-3 months. The Canadiens placed him on long-term injured reserve. It meant he would miss the first part of the season and potentially return as late as December.

This wasn’t just another injury for Laine but another setback in a career marred by physical challenges. Injuries had already plagued his time in Columbus, and now this latest one in Montreal would delay his much-anticipated comeback. With Laine sidelined, the Canadiens would need to rely on other forwards to fill the void on their top two lines and power play.

What If? Laine Stayed Healthy

The big question: What if Patrik Laine stayed healthy? What if he had been able to play the entire season with the Canadiens, starting with the opening puck drop in October?

Had Laine been healthy, he could have provided the Canadiens with a much-needed scoring boost. The team, still during its rebuild, was looking for any advantage to climb the standings and become more competitive. Laine’s ability to play on the top line and quarterback the No. 1 power-play unit would have allowed him to rack up points at a higher rate, perhaps even approaching his career average of around 30 goals per season. With the Canadiens’ other top players like Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, Laine could have formed a potent offensive trio, helping Montreal exceed expectations and possibly sneak into playoff contention.

More importantly, Laine’s leadership on a young, growing team could have had a trickle-down effect, mentoring up-and-coming stars like Juraj Slafkovský and seeing them grow under his tutelage. His experience would have been invaluable as the Canadiens transition from a rebuilding team to a potential playoff contender.

Had Laine stayed healthy and found his groove, it’s plausible that the Canadiens would have finished the season with more wins, better offensive numbers, and possibly even a shot at the playoffs. The points and power-play contributions he would have provided would have been crucial for a team still searching for its identity in the post-Price era.

A Missed Opportunity for Laine

As Laine battles his latest setback, the Canadiens wonder what could have been. At the same time, it’s impossible to rewrite history; the “What If?” scenario is compelling. If he had stayed healthy, Laine could have revitalized his career. The Canadiens needed him to play a significant role in their growth as a team. Now, with the injury timeline extending into December at best, the future remains uncertain.

If Laine does return to health in time to make an impact, he will need to quickly find his rhythm and help Montreal compete down the stretch. All the Canadiens can do for now is wait and wonder. Would their season have looked good with a healthy Laine in the lineup?