Most Montreal hockey fans are raving about Patrik Laine, especially following his hat trick Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
But his teammates also are excited about the generational talent they have in their midst, as they contemplate what the Finnish forward might help them accomplish during the club’s rebuild and potential NHL ascendancy.
“Obviously, it’s nice to have. Any time you have a threat, a weapon, especially on the power play, that just makes you a lot more deadly,” Josh Anderson said Wednesday after the Canadiens conducted a 30-minute practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “It’s nice. Special teams are so important these days. It has won games. It obviously gave us a huge boost (Tuesday).
“Not only on the power play. He’s just very skilled,” Anderson continued. “He has been great ever since he has been in the lineup for us.”
Acquired from Columbus last August along with a second-round 2026 draft pick for defenceman Jordan Harris, it might end up being remembered as the trade that single-handedly reversed the Canadiens’ fortunes.
Since recovering from a pre-season knee injury and making his Canadiens’ debut Dec. 3 against the New York Islanders, Laine has made an immediate impact. He scored in three of his first four games and now has six goals and an assist in seven contests. All of Laine’s goals have come on the power play.
Laine, a right-handed shot, frequently positions himself in the left-wing circle, releasing his deadly shot quickly and scoring in one motion. Opposing goaltenders haven’t been able to react in time or get into position to make a save.
While the Canadiens (12-16-3) remain second-to-last in the Atlantic Division, they have won four of seven games since Laine’s insertion. One player alone can’t carry a team, but how might the Canadiens’ fortunes have changed had Laine been available the entire season?
Head coach Martin St. Louis wouldn’t speculate on the hypothetical question Wednesday, but he knows his team has become more dangerous with a healthy Laine, who wasn’t made available to the media after practice.
“I feel like he came at a good time,” St. Louis said. “Him scoring goals and helping the team win on the power play is big. It’s a big part when your special teams are running good, like it did last game. You’re going to give yourself a good chance.
“If you back that up with a good five-on-five game, you’re usually pretty happy at the end of the game. The goal for us is finding some consistency in both. It’s a hard league to do that, but that’s our goal.”
The Canadiens have three games left before their Christmas break and annual holiday road trip, including back-to-back games against the Red Wings beginning Friday night at Detroit before the teams return to the Bell Centre on Saturday. Detroit was one point ahead of Montreal, with a game in hand, prior to hosting Philadelphia Wednesday night.
Anderson, who scored his sixth goal this season against Buffalo, believes Laine can play a big role in changing the Canadiens’ fortunes.
“Obviously, he’s an important piece to our team,” Anderson said. “We were very excited when we acquired him. He’s been in the league for years now and has been through it all. Whenever you get a generational talent like Patty, it’s an encouraging piece for our team.”
Veteran forward Brendan Gallagher also said it’s exciting to be associated with Laine.
“He’s a special talent and a special player,” Gallagher said. “We’ve gotten the chance to know him and he has fit into our room really well. You just want to see him have success. It has been great the way the city has received him and welcomed him. He’s having a lot of fun and it has been good to watch.”
Laine, 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, is only 26 and has yet to hit the prime seasons of his career. He probably surprised the media post-game Tuesday when he suggested his performance against Buffalo, other than the three goals, was only average at best. He added he has played better without necessarily scoring.
“He did plenty to help us win that game,” Gallagher said. “I don’t think anyone’s looking around thinking he didn’t perform. He did what he was asked to do. It was entertaining to watch in the process. Every market would like to have a player like him. He’s dynamic. He’s exciting, puts the puck in the net and gives the fans a reason to cheer. He’s a good player any team would be happy to have.”
If Laine still expects more from himself, considering all he has already delivered, how can that not augur well for the Canadiens?