The Montreal Canadiens made a significant trade last off-season, acquiring Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris. With the Canadiens looking for more scoring, it was understandable that they took a shot on Laine.

Overall, Laine's first season with the Canadiens was a bit of a mixed bag. In 52 games on the year, the 27-year-old winger recorded 20 goals, 13 assists, 33 points, and a minus-14 rating. While his offensive totals were not necessarily bad, it is important to note that a significant portion of his offense came with the man advantage, as he had 15 power-play goals and 19 power-play points on the season. 

With this, the Canadiens will certainly be hoping that Laine can make more of an impact at even strength next season. If he does and gets his offensive numbers back up to his previous levels, it would be massive for a Canadiens team that is looking to take another step in the right direction in 2025-26. When noting that he had 52 points in 55 games with Columbus in 2022-23 and 56 points in 56 contests in 2021-22, the possibility of him turning things back around should not be ruled out. 

As a result, Laine is undoubtedly an X-factor to watch next season. If he has success both at even strength and on the power play, he would give the Canadiens a huge boost. However, if he continues to have his struggles at even strength and does not improve his overall production, it would be less than ideal for the Canadiens. It would also create more questions about his future in Montreal, as he is entering the final season of his deal and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. 

Former Canadiens First-Round Pick Announces Retirement Former <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens">Montreal Canadiens </a>defenseman Nathan Beaulieu has retired from professional hockey, as announced by the NHLPA.

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