If there was ever any question about Patrik Laine, the Montreal Canadiens have given him a chance to answer all of them.
Montreal is rolling, as the page flipped from 2024 to 2025, the Habs have held on to a hot streak. The club has done so, without their most lethal goal scorer, Laine, who has been sidelined with the flu. You have to think that having a goal scorer on each of the top two lines will help the team tremendously.
Cole Caufield has continued his shooting ways and continues to become more dangerous in the offensive zone. No. 13 has been strong all season, and I think the difference that Laine's return will make is massive. It's unclear how many goals Laine is going to score with the Canadiens, and with the wildcard Habs needing all hands on deck; each additional goal from Laine will be important.
Patrik Laine coming back into Montreal’s line up is the major key to their resurgence.@EricEngels joined the pod to discuss.https://t.co/H2asmmmKUm pic.twitter.com/lQopkh5Wri
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 8, 2025
Eric Engels talked about the importance of Laine rejoining the surging Canadiens, and I can't imagine that anybody is going to disagree with him. There are not many players in the NHL that can shoot the puck as Laine does, and none with the Habs. A healthy and confident Laine in Montreal's lineup could push the Habs toward a playoff berth.
It's a shame that Laine won't be in the lineup for the game against the Capitals. Anytime there is an opportunity to see Alex Ovechkin play, it's a treat. But he and Laine going head-to-head is can't-miss hockey. Ovechkin is also closing in on Wayne Gretzky's record and loves to play the Habs.
The Habs will still battle on, and I think that a team who is playing well, and adding Laine into the mix should catapult the Habs even higher. With the team clicking, and goaltending shored up, the Canadiens have to feel encouraged. A wildcard spot, at this point in the season, after a brutal start is a true testament to the Habs' toughness.
Winning is important for the culture and the growth of the team from rebuilder to contender. So adding a guy who can do the hardest thing in hockey better than almost everybody, is going to boost the club. Laine is young and hungry, and I think that fits right into the Canadiens' dressing room.
Ivan Demidov, we are excited for you
Looking at the Canadiens offence, it's obvious that there are parts of the makings of something special. Two elite goal scorers, a two-way number one centre, a power forward in the making, and an offensive centre. Ivan Demidov has the potential to come in and make an instant impact, at least that is the consensus of most hockey talent analysts.
Demidov is a dual threat, and his vision is up there with Suzuki and Lane Hutson, he sees the ice differently. His addition to the lineup will make the Habs power play lethal because he adds a shooting threat and playmaking genius to the attack. Demidov is shifty and can put the puck into spots that few NHL players can.
Right now, he is tearing up the KHL, and that only increases on the scoreboard with his climbing ice time. Being compared to a 100-point player, who is in his prime is incredibly high praise. Kirill Kaprizov is legitimately one of the best players in the NHL. Expectations for Demidov are incredibly high, and his dominance in the KHL warrants it.