Patrik Laine seems more motivated than ever with Montreal Canadiens

Patrik Laine has plenty to prove under immense pressure in Montreal this season, but the early returns show he is willing and able to get the job done for the Canadiens. Laine's career has been tumultuous over the last few seasons. He had a difficult time in Winnipeg and, after some success early in his career, sought a fresh start, which the Jets gave him in Columbus. Laine never fit in correctly in Columbus, and after a disappointing 2023-24 season where he broke his collarbone and entered the NHLPA's Player Assistance Program, the Blue Jackets honored another trade request and sent him to the Canadiens.

Plenty of questions remained about Laine. Would he be able to fit in with the Canadiens? Could he recover from his collarbone injury and contribute this season? Would the reason for his time in the player assistance program be an issue for him going forward? It's only been a little over a week into the preseason, but Laine has passed all those questions with flying colors.

The best thing about Laine's preseason mentality is how much he is trying to get back to his previous form. He has been talking about returning to being a 40+ goal scorer, and his work ethic at practices is shining through. His comments about wanting to play in the remaining preseason games also shows that he wants to be ready to hit the ground running once the regular season begins.

It'd be outrageous to think Laine could return to his past form instantly in a Canadiens uniform. There will likely be some bumps in the road as he returns to those days of scoring 40+ goals in his early Jets days. Will he ever get back to that? Maybe not. However, it was worth the risk on a two-year contract for the Canadiens to try and salvage his career. They have to be encouraged by his attitude early in training camp, but the last question Laine has to answer is whether he can keep it going for 82 games.