The Montreal Canadiens are putting a lot of hope in their $34.8 million forward this year. He’s heading into the final season of his four-year deal with an $8.7 million cap hit, and the timing couldn’t be bigger. Come 2026, he’s a free agent. That alone adds extra pressure for him to show he’s still the kind of scorer teams game-plan against.
Will the Canadiens See the Best of Patrik Laine This Season?
The last few seasons haven’t been smooth for Patrik Laine. Injuries, long cold spells, and just not being able to stay in rhythm have hurt his numbers.
NHL insider Chris Johnston of The Athletic pointed out that Laine has only hit 70 points once in his career, and that was way back in 2017-18 when he was still with Winnipeg.
“It’s reasonable to expect him to take another step forward this season, especially if he can get through training camp healthy,” Johnston wrote. Last year gave fans a glimpse. Laine managed 20 goals and 13 assists in 52 games, but what really stood out was the power play as 15 of those goals came with the extra man. His five-on-five play lagged, but that shot of his still scares goalies.
“Not only is Laine playing for his next contract, but he also figures to get important top-six minutes and key power-play opportunities for a Canadiens team that needs him to be scoring,” Johnston added.
He even told reporters he felt like this was the season in which people would see the best version of him. For a Canadiens lineup that often leaned too heavily on its young stars, that’s exactly what they need.
The Stakes for Montreal
The timing here can’t be ignored. Laine knows his next contract rides on how he plays, and Montreal knows its push toward contention could swing with his form.
If he produces, he not only boosts his own value but also gives the Canadiens something they’ve lacked — reliable secondary scoring. That’s why the front office was willing to take the gamble in the first place.
Laine’s track record is a mix of highs and lows. Drafted second overall by Winnipeg in 2016, he stormed into the league with 36 goals as a rookie, then hit 44 the year after.
Since then? The story has been more uneven with some hot streaks, lots of setbacks, and a trade to Columbus before he landed in Montreal in 2024. Now 27, he’s at a point where people are wondering which version of him will show up.
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Montreal doesn’t need Laine to turn back the clock entirely. What they do need is for him to stay on the ice, use his size, and fire that shot on the power play. If that happens, he takes pressure off the team’s young core and makes the offense much harder to shut down.
Fans have already seen flashes. He scored in his Canadiens debut and gave the power play a jolt last season before injuries cut things short. This time, the expectation is simple: stay healthy, score goals, and prove he’s still one of the NHL’s better wingers.
