Patrik Laine didn't make the Team Finland roster for the Four Nations Faceoff because he scored a goal in his return to the Montreal Canadiens lineup. The Finnish sniper was on the radar of their front office, and the only thing that would've stopped them from naming him to the roster was a setback in his knee recovery. It shouldn't have been a big surprise, considering he is one of the most talented players in the country, but many forgot about him when projecting the lineup.
NHL.com didn't include Laine on their projected roster on November 30, 2024, and didn't even include him in their small blurb after listing the players. No disrespect to him, but they even included Utah winger Matias Maccelli as a fringe option, who hasn't been close to Laine's production before the injuries.
Some other publications had Laine as a fourth-line option on the team in their last-minute projections once he began making progress in his return from injury. However, some people were surprised when his name appeared on the official list. It may have been a shock for some, but Laine was a name they had circled from the beginning for the Finland front office.
General Manager Jere Lehtinen caught up with RG.com. He revealed that the team was in constant contact with Laine. He believed his offensive strengths would benefit them in a short tournament, especially for a country that historically wins games with tight checking and defensive play. A gamebreaker like Laine on the powerplay could be integral for winning those tight 2-1 games with a clutch special teams goal.
"Yeah, we know what he [Laine] is capable of doing," Lehtinen told RG. "He’s great on special teams. He has those skills. In a short tournament, the special teams are going to be a big part of that. We've been talking with him, and then knowing where he's at. it's great for him and the Canadiens; he's back early from his injury and ready to go; he was able to play last night [Tuesday night], and it was a great thing."
Martin St. Louis hasn't been easing Laine back into the lineup. He played around 17 minutes per game over his first three and has two powerplay goals. It hasn't been an easy few years for Laine, but finding a home in Montreal and the added confidence of representing his country could do wonders for his Canadiens' future.