Montreal Canadiens fans can breathe a small sigh of relief, considering that Patrik Laine dodged a bullet with his knee injury.
A sprain is a far cry from a tear or any significant damage that requires surgical repair for him to return to play. The sprain, which will require two to three months of recovery time is a blow to Laine, who battled hard to get back. But it was also a blow to the Canadiens' offensive hopes, and the brotherhood that was being built.
Wow. That is amazing. Knees aren’t supposed to bend that way. That that is a sprain seems impossible.
— Brian Wilde (@BWildeMTL) October 1, 2024
So stay above water, in the mix as they say, Laine returns and they get more in the mix.
Habs fans, bring back the joy. https://t.co/C9W75q2MGv
The most important part of it all is Laine's physical health, it is of the utmost importance, but mentally he has faced a lot and a setback like such could weigh quite heavily on one's mind. Fortunately for Laine, he will be able to settle into Montreal and recover with the team close by, something that has been a benefit for Kirby Dach in the past. It's also good to see the team rally around Laine and help him during these trying times.
Laine will be replaced by committee
It's not as though the team has been assembled ahead of the regular season opener, so decisions are still to be made. But there was always a close to 100% chance that Laine was going to make the roster. In his absence, the Canadiens will need to find new ways to add goals.
A healthy top line will pick back up where they left off, which can keep everybody feeling confident. The second line will also be important, but most specifically who they decide to use - Kirby Dach is the only likely lock. So, perhaps Alex Newhook and Joshua Roy could be an ideal duo to slot with Dach and create some offence.
The third line, maybe with Oliver Kapanen in the fold could be a real difference-maker. Adding a couple of veterans to help him adjust to the game, and allowing him to play his strong two-way game and pitch in offensively will be important. Maybe Kapanen with Brendan Gallagher and Joel Armia could be a nice fit, or even Josh Anderson could fit.
The fact is that there are plenty of options, I haven't even mentioned Christian Dvorak or Jake Evans. They aren't renowned for their goal-scoring, but they are stout options down the middle that can provide an outlet to their wingers. Aside from Cole Caufield, there aren't any 40-goal potential scorers in the lineup, maybe Nick Suzuki, but even then, they haven't scored 35.
So filling in for Laine's production, though it hasn't impacted the lineup yet, will be a task done by the entire roster.