Montreal Canadiens fans were left holding their breath as star forward Patrik Laine suffered a left knee sprain in a collision with Toronto Maple Leafs’ Cedric Pare during a preseason game. Although the injury will not require surgery, Laine faces a grueling two to three-month rehabilitation period.
The incident occurred early in the first period of Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs, leaving the 26-year-old struggling to get off the ice with the help of team staff. As Laine was seen at practice on crutches and sporting a hinged knee brace, Canadiens supporters couldn’t help but worry about their new acquisition’s recovery.
Laine, who was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade on August 19, showcased his talents with six goals and nine points in just 18 games last season. Despite facing challenges, including entering the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program in January, Laine was cleared to return to play in July.
Selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016, Laine made a name for himself with a career-high 44 goals during the 2017-2018 season. However, his journey took a turn when he was traded to the Blue Jackets in January 2021 alongside Jack Roslovic in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Having played in 480 NHL games and netting an impressive 204 goals and 388 points split between the Jets and Blue Jackets, the talented forward from Tampere, Finland has become a force to be reckoned with in the league. Canadiens fans will be eagerly waiting for his return to the ice, ready to see him light up the scoreboard once again.
