Less than a week after suffering a sprained knee that will keep him out of the Montreal Canadiens lineup for at least two-to-three months, Patrik Laine discussed the controversial hit that injured him and his decision to forego surgery.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Laine didn't seem to hold any ill will toward Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cedric Pare, who put the former All-Star on the shelf after a knee-to-knee collision on Sept. 28. Meanwhile, the Canadiens' forward even took some of the blame.
"I don't think anybody is trying to hurt anybody. Hockey's a fast game," Laine said via the Canadiens. "I just put myself in that position a little bit; D's trying to make a stop. He texted me afterward, give him respect for that. It's just an unfortunate play."
Pare shared the same view after the game, saying, "It wasn't my intention," while wishing Laine well.
Patrik Laine is forced to leave the game with a knee injury after colliding with Cedric Pare. pic.twitter.com/3rAOIRrfrQ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 28, 2024
Regarding the injury, after getting several opinions, Laine opted to pass on surgery and will instead allow it to heal naturally along with rehab. He said it was his decision alone, but credited the Canadiens and the team's medical staff for helping him.
"They did a good job kind of explaining the whole process and the situation we're in and reassuring that the chances are very high," Laine said. "So that made me feel a little bit better about it. Now, just gotta put in the work."
It's a tough break for Laine, who hasn't played an entire season since 2018-19. But, his absence also creates a significant hole on the Habs' second line, where several candidates, including Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, are expected to pick up the slack.
Acquired in an August trade with the Blue Jackets, Laine was supposed to offer the Canadiens a scoring boast, having netted 20 or more goals in six of his eight NHL seasons. But, even though his debut in a Montreal sweater will have to wait a couple of months, the 26-year-old is optimistic about the future, acknowledging that the injury "could've been much worse."
