New Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine is working out in Quebec, and Habs fans are jazzed to project what he's capable of as a top-six winger with elite sniper skills.

Let’s be honest – Montreal Canadiens fans haven’t had a wealth of things to look forward to in recent years. Sure, they do have an above-average core of young players to invest their time, ticket money and emotions in, but in terms of players who can affect the here and now, the Habs have been lacking as they push through a full rebuild.

However, after the blockbuster deal that brought him to Montreal via Columbus, sniper winger Patrik Laine has Canadiens fans excited to begin the season. And as we’re on the precipice of training camp, Laine is back on the ice and giving Habs fans a glimpse of what’s to come.

With Laine scrimmaging in Brossard, Que., the hockey world is seeing what’s going to be possible in Montreal this coming season. And if Laine can get back to his form from the 2016-2018 seasons, the Canadiens will be elated. During that time, Laine was averaging 40 goals per season with the Winnipeg Jets and averaging 67 points per year. 

The 26-year-old is theoretically in his prime, and given that he’s going to be playing on the Canadiens’ second line – on the wing alongside center Kirby Dach and winger Alex Newhook – Laine should be able to at least return to the 24-goal pace he was on in two seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2021-2023.

If Laine thrives early on, and if third-year star winger Juraj Slafkovsky struggles, Laine could be elevated to Montreal’s top line with center Nick Suzuki and winger Cole Caufield. But even if he stays on the second line, Laine is going to be on the ice with Suzuki and Caufield (as well as Slafkovsky) on the first power play unit. In other words, Laine’s totals on offense should be much better than they were this past season, when he appeared in only 18 games and mustered just six goals and nine points.

There’s no question last season was a low point for Laine personally and professionally. But he looks like someone ready and able to shake off past letdowns and succeed in the hockey fishbowl that is Montreal. Canadiens fans are right to have notable expectations for Laine – the team is paying him an average of $8.7 million through 2025-26 – but at long last, the Habs are getting an above-average competitor who can be a difference-maker at the highest level.

There is a chance the Laine experiment could go wrong, of course. But Montreal fans have been aching to cheer on a needle-mover with years of experience in a top-six role, and Laine’s acquisition could turn out to be one of the main moves that help the Canadiens turn the corner and get back to a place of prominence in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division. 

If Laine starts shooting the lights out again, he’ll be adored by Habs fans, and his contract will be money well spent by Canadiens GM Kent Hughes. And if not – well, suffice to say Laine will feel the disappointment Montrealers will be dealing with. He can be the author of his destiny, and return to an elite level. But he has to do the heavy lifting to get there.