Patrik Laine’s Impact on the Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens made a significant move in the trade market by acquiring star forward Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets, along with a 2026 second-round pick. In exchange, they sent defenseman Jordan Harris to Columbus. While Harris is a promising young blueliner, he found himself crowded out by the depth of young defensemen in Montreal’s system. Laine, however, was in need of a fresh start after completing the NHLPA’s player assistance program and requesting a trade from Ohio. When healthy, the Finnish winger has proven to be an elite scorer, having already reached the 40-goal mark in his career. While his goal-scoring ability is well-known, what else can Laine bring to the Canadiens?
What Patrik Laine Brings to the Canadiens
Dual Threat in the Top-Six
Last season, one of Montreal’s major issues was their lack of scoring depth, with most of the burden falling on the Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield line. However, with Kirby Dach returning and the addition of Patrik Laine, the Canadiens have effectively added two top-six forwards. Incorporating Alex Newhook or Joshua Roy into the mix further enhances their scoring depth.
The team now boasts a dual threat in the top-six. Cole Caufield saw a slight drop in expected goal production last season, though he still managed a respectable 28 goals. A key factor in Caufield’s dip was that he was the team’s only real shooting threat. Now, with both Laine and Caufield on the ice, opposing teams will need to adjust their game plans to defend against two potent goal-scorers. This dual threat could be particularly effective on the power play. No longer will the Canadiens need to rely on players like Joel Armia or Josh Anderson on their top power-play unit. Instead, they can now field two formidable and potentially lethal units. A top power play lineup featuring Laine, Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson is likely to cause headaches for opposing teams.
Patrik Laine
Laine’s arrival also allows Kirby Dach to move to the second unit, providing it with a player who can consistently manage zone entries on the power play. The second unit, which will include Newhook, Roy, and Mike Matheson (who is also pushed down with Hutson’s arrival), will be difficult to defend, especially with the one-timer threats of Caufield, Laine, and Slafkovsky.
Hope for the Upcoming Season
Perhaps the most significant impact of the Laine trade is the hope it brings for the upcoming season. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has expressed his desire to give the team a legitimate chance at making the playoffs this year, believing that the players deserve the opportunity to take the next step. Without a major addition to the top-six, the Canadiens’ playoff hopes would have been slim, but Hughes delivered on his promise. This acquisition will likely boost the morale of the players, signaling that management has confidence in their ability to compete.
The trade also gives the fans a reason to be hopeful. While the selection of Ivan Demidov was met with enthusiasm, he won’t be joining the team for another year. In the meantime, the addition of Laine provides a boost of excitement, giving fans hope that the Canadiens could be playing meaningful games in March or even April. The passionate Montreal fanbase is eager to avoid another season of being out of contention by January, and Laine’s arrival could help the team inch closer to playoff contention this season.
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