Patrik Laine to make regular season debut with Canadiens against Islanders on Tuesday

Patrik Laine is expected to make his debut with the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday night when the team hosts the New York Islanders.

The 26-year-old winger was skating on a line with Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky during the Canadiens’ morning’s practice on Tuesday.

Laine, acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in August, was injured during a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team later announced Laine would avoid surgery but was expected to miss between two-to-three months.

Last season with the Blue Jackets, Laine had six goals and three assists for nine points in 18 regular-season games. Through his nine previous NHL seasons, Laine has 204 goals and 184 assists for 388 points in 480 career regular-season games with the Blue Jackets and Winnipeg Jets.

Laine also has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 24 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, and was a key contributor for the Jets during their 2018 run to the Western Conference Finals.

Taken No. 2 overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Laine shot out of a cannon, scoring 36 goals in his rookie campaign and following it up with 44 goals and 26 assists for 70 points in 2017-18. After scoring 30 goals the following seasons, Laine hasn’t hit the 30-goal mark since, struggling to reach the production he found during his first few seasons with Winnipeg.

The Canadiens are 8-13-3 with 19 points so far in 2024-25, last in the Eastern Conference and second-last in the league.