Patrik Laine may start his season somewhere other than with the Montreal Canadiens
Patrik Laine has been giving his all for several days in an attempt to return to the game as quickly as possible.
Laine is progressing in his exercises on the ice, putting more and more strain on his knee to ensure that it is fully recovered.
Some sources, including Renaud Lavoie, report that there is a good chance that the 26-year-old Finn will make his return by the end of November, which means that there is a little more than a week left before he gets the green light.
However, even if he is fit to play soon, he still has a long way to go to get back to his cruising speed in the NHL. Laine has not played in more than a year and only played 18 games last season.
Patrik Laine could begin his return with the Laval Rocket
According to Georges Laraque, loaning Laine to the Laval Rocket for a short period of fitness could be an excellent idea. This strategy, already used for players like Carey Price or Brendan Gallagher, has proven its effectiveness.
Recently, Raphaël Harvey-Pinard was sent to the AHL as part of a conditioning program after several months of absence. Why not do the same for Laine?
One or two games in a competitive - but less intense environment than the NHL - would allow him to test his physical condition, particularly his knee, and gradually get his bearings back.
This option is sometimes underestimated by the Bettman circuit organizations, who do not take advantage of this possibility to better reintegrate a player who has missed a lot of action.
We saw what happened with Kirby Dach and the Habs at the start of the season. It was very difficult for him, but he seems to be slowly finding his rhythm after about fifteen games.
Playing a few games in the minors could have helped him get back into shape after a year of inactivity, before better acclimating to the NHL.
Laine has expressed his desire to relaunch his career in Montreal. A stint in Laval could be an ideal springboard, while allowing the Canadiens to ensure that he is ready to contribute fully upon his return.
And you, do you think that a stay with the Rocket would be beneficial for Laine?
