The Montreal Canadiens had an opportunity to start strong and position themselves competitively in the challenging Atlantic Division. The addition of sharpshooter Patrik Laine was expected to help them take a step forward and become a playoff contender. However, after 23 games and without Laine, who has been sidelined by injury, the Canadiens find themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic with an 8-12-3 record, ranking third-worst in the league. While Laine is nearing his return, it’s likely too late for his presence to significantly alter Montreal’s fortunes this season.
Despite this, the Canadiens are technically still within striking distance of a wild-card spot, sitting six points behind the Philadelphia Flyers. However, they face a daunting task, needing to surpass seven teams—Ottawa, Pittsburgh, the Islanders, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, and Boston—to challenge the Flyers. This makes a late playoff push a long shot, requiring nothing short of a miracle.
For Canadiens fans, seeing Laine back in action should be exciting, as his presence brings the kind of veteran star power the team has lacked during its rebuilding phase. General Manager Kent Hughes has focused on rebuilding the roster around young talent, and Laine’s acquisition signals progress in that effort. While his return likely won’t change the team’s playoff outlook this year, a healthy Laine scoring 25-30 goals would represent a positive step forward for the organization.
Unfortunately, with a poor start to the season, Montreal has dug itself into a hole too deep to climb out of, even with Laine’s help. It’s a reminder that while a team can’t secure a championship early in the season, it can certainly fall out of contention. Laine’s long-term value to the Canadiens remains promising, but his absence has contributed to their struggles, leaving the team at the bottom of the standings with little hope for a turnaround this year.
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