The last year or so has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs for Patrik Laine.
In need of a fresh start and a change of scenery, the Finnish sniper was traded from Columbus to Montreal, creating a tremendous buzz and excitement from the fanbase, which was on full display as the Bell Centre cheered him on in just the preseason.
Then came the unfortunate knee injury he suffered in a collision with Maple Leafs forward Cedric Pare, forcing him to miss the first 24 games of the season before returning in early December. Laine had some good moments throughout the 52 games he did play, potting 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points; however, it was all still a work in progress.
As he prepares for his second season with the Canadiens, Laine recently interviewed with a Finnish news outlet, Helsingin Sanomat, and revealed he’s feeling fully healthy and ready to go.
“I’ve been able to train well and, above all, be healthy for the first time in a long time. It’s been a big thing now that I haven’t had to struggle with minor injuries or other challenges,” Laine said.
“Since the beginning of July, I’ve been on the ice almost every day. Definitely more than normal. Last summer I probably trained for three weeks before the season. Last season I had shoulder surgery and was out for maybe a month and a half. Now I’ve been able to train fully since May. It’s a slightly different starting point for the season, as you don’t have to start while recovering,” Laine added.
Laine has not played more than 60 games in a season since the 2019-20 campaign as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, something he hopes to change in 2025-26.
Patrik Laine could be in for a productive season
Hockey fans know how gifted Patrik Laine is; it’s just a matter of whether he can stay healthy and remain consistent when in the lineup.
The news that he feels the healthiest he’s been in a long time could signal that the 27-year-old is in for a big year. He flashed his borderline unstoppable shot on the power play last season, but production at 5-on-5 lacked.
Not only will Laine be in a better place physically to start the 2025-26 season, he’ll also have some tremendous talent around him to play with. The first full season of rookie Ivan Demidov and the addition of star defenseman Noah Dobson to go with the strong core already built in Montreal have the Canadiens looking like one of the more dynamic offensive teams in the NHL, which should certainly benefit Patrik Laine.
