Patrik Laine and the Canadiens: A Complicated Fit in a Crowded Lineup
As the Montreal Canadiens continue to navigate a challenging season, the situation surrounding Patrik Laine is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. According to league sources, the Canadiens are open to exploring trade options for the 6-foot-5 winger. But moving Laine is proving to be far more complicated than simply making a few calls.
Laine’s name entering the trade conversation doesn’t come as a shock-especially not to his own family. His wife recently posted an Instagram reel that hinted at the looming uncertainty, captioning it with a nod to the emotional toll of a contract year and the inevitable trade deadline chatter. The writing’s been on the wall for a while.
Despite practicing regularly and wearing a full-contact jersey, Laine remains on the outside looking in. Head coach Martin St.
Louis hasn’t inserted him back into the lineup, and it’s not just a coaching decision-it’s a numbers game. The Canadiens are already carrying the maximum 23 players on their active roster.
To activate Laine, someone would need to be traded or placed on waivers. Simply scratching a veteran won’t cut it.
Compare that to Alexandre Texier, who’s already on the active roster and could slot in more easily. Laine’s return would require a roster move, and that’s where things get tricky.
It’s also fair to question whether adding Laine back into the mix would even help this version of the Canadiens. In the five games he played earlier this season, Laine managed just one assist.
He was deployed in a bottom-six role, skating limited minutes and working on the second power-play unit. His signature one-timer?
Barely a factor. His timing was off, and his impact was minimal.
And the reality is, the top six is even more crowded now than it was in October. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Texier or Kirby Dach have locked down the first line, while Juraj Slafkovsky, Oliver Kapanen, and Ivan Demidov are holding steady on the second. That leaves no clear opening for Laine in a scoring role.
The challenge is that Laine doesn’t fit the mold of a bottom-six forward. He’s not a forechecking, energy-line guy.
He gave it a shot earlier this season, but it was clear the fit wasn’t right. Even in limited roles, players like Joe Veleno, Samuel Blais (currently scratched), and Zach Bolduc-who had a strong showing on Thursday-offer more in that part of the lineup.
Sending Laine to the AHL’s Laval Rocket isn’t a real solution either. Not because the Canadiens are worried about losing him on waivers-his contract likely protects them there-but because his presence in the minors wouldn’t benefit anyone.
It’s hard to see a player with his resume and salary-$9.1 million this season-embracing that kind of assignment. And unlike Texier, who agreed to a contract termination to pursue a new opportunity with the Blues, Laine’s financial situation makes that kind of exit highly unlikely.
It’s a tough spot for a player who’s been through a lot. Laine seemed to find some joy in the game again last season in Montreal, but the roster has evolved. Internal development and smart moves by GM Kent Hughes have reshaped the team’s forward group, leaving Laine without a clear role.
If the Canadiens do look to move him, salary retention is almost certainly going to be part of the equation. They have three retention slots available, so it’s doable, but it could complicate their flexibility heading into the trade deadline.
There’s also been word of some level of interest in Calgary center Nazem Kadri, though it’s unclear how serious that is. Hughes has a track record of making unexpected moves, and with the deadline approaching, the Canadiens’ front office may have more than one iron in the fire.
For now, Laine remains in limbo-healthy, practicing, and waiting. But unless something gives, either on the roster or the trade front, his path back into the lineup remains blocked.