Canadiens: What to Expect From Patrik Laine

It had been a while since the Summer was rocked by a high profile trade in Montreal, but unlike the Subban-Weber deal, nobody is upset about it. It's not that the organization or the fans didn't like Jordan Harris, far from it, but the help up front was so desperately needed.

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Funnily enough, that above-mentioned deal happened in the Summer of 2016, days after Patrik Laine was drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets. There were plenty of rumours the Montreal Canadiens were trying to move up in the draft on the day and that Subban might be sent packing, but the target was Pierre-Luc Dubois back then. After having being traded for said Dubois once in his career, Laine comes to Montreal with two years left on his deal and wishing to get a new start.

Last Season

To say that last year was a tough one for Laine would be an understatement. The big Finn had to deal with both injuries and mental health issues. Four games into the season, he suffered a concussion which saw him miss nine games after being charged by Rasmus Andersson.

An illness made him miss three games in December and he returned on the 10th but only to suffer a broken clavicle on the 14th against the Maple Leafs. It turned out to be his last game as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Related: Canadiens: What to Expect From Cole Caufield

When he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program he had played 18 games and racked up six goals and three assists in the process. Before exiting the program, he told the Columbus organization he needed a new start and Don Waddell obliged. He first tried to trade him to Minnesota but Laine refused to lift his no movement clause.

In the end, the Canadiens sent defenseman Jordan Harris to the Jackets in return for Laine and a second-round pick at the 2026 draft.

What to Expect

Speaking to the media since the trade, Laine has been very vocal about how happy he is to join a team in a city where hockey is the main focus. Having been drafted by the Jets and played in Winnipeg for four full seasons, he knows how important hockey is for Canadians everywhere.

While some are worried he will struggle under the magnifying glass in Montreal, it's worth saying he actually had the best seasons of his career in Winnipeg. The winger says he thrives under pressure and is happy to arrive in Montreal.

Simply put, look for a bounce back season for Laine that's he wants and needs. It's hard to put a number on the kind of production that should be expected, because so much will depend on how he is deployed and who he plays with.

Most pundits agree that for now, he's penciled in the top six on the second line alongside Kirby Dach, but opinions about who should complete the line vary depending on who you ask. Personally, I would like to see Newhook round up the line.

Related: Canadiens: What to Expect From Nick Suzuki

Providing everyone stays healthy on that line, it's easy to see Laine unleashing plenty of one-timers from his preferred spot just off the wing. After all, Dach is, and has always been a pass first kind of guy. In fact, the Canadiens haven't had a lot of shoot first kind of guys in the roster for quite some time, aside from Cole Caufield of course.

Laine's only a couple of seasons removed from being a point-per-game player (56 points in 56 games in 2021-22 and the following year he put 52 points on the board in 55 contest coming just short), so I can easily see him hit 50 points, especially if he has plenty of power play time.

If chemistry takes immediately with his linemates and everyone stays healthy however, he may well have it in him to be a point per game player again. Should that happen, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is going to look like a genius for pulling the trigger on that trade.