Montreal Canadiens star Patrik Laine is facing a significant setback as he undergoes surgery for a core muscle injury, sidelining him for three to four months, the NHL team revealed over the weekend.
Laine has been absent from the ice since his last game on October 16th against the Nashville Predators. Initially described as a day-to-day absence due to a lower-body issue, his condition worsened leading to the surgical intervention before the October 19th clash with the New York Rangers.
The 27-year-old forward from Finland had a slow start to the season, tallying just one assist with limited playing time averaging a career-low of 12 minutes and 26 seconds across five games.
Having joined the Canadiens in the previous season after recovering from a knee sprain that kept him out for the first part of the campaign, Laine made a notable impact with 20 goals and 13 assists in 52 games. His trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets marked a fresh start for the talented player.
Notably, Laine’s career peaked during his time with the Winnipeg Jets, where he achieved a career-best of 44 goals and 70 points in the 2017-2018 season.
While Laine faces a challenging road to recovery, the Canadiens are gearing up to return to action in Vancouver on Saturday night.
