Patrik Laine makes surprise appearance in Brossard as recovery progresses for Canadiens star

Even though the Montreal Canadiens had a day off, the forward showed up at the CN Sports Complex. He was not skating, but he handled the puck and stayed near the boards. Alongside him, Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle and Mike Matheson were also on the ice.

The Canadiens announced he will be out three to four months following surgery to repair the abdominal wall muscles.

He has not played since October 16, and the operation was performed in New York on October 25. According to the schedule provided by the team, a return to play is possible beginning February 28.

Laine has only five games played this season, with one assist and a -3 rating. At 27 years old, number 92 earns 8.7 million per year on a 34.8-million contract. In his career, Laine has totaled 224 goals and 422 points in 537 NHL games, after being drafted second overall in 2016.

The presence of Dach also drew attention. He injured his foot November 15 and was expected to miss four to six weeks. Before that, the 24-year-old center had seven points, including five goals, in 15 games.

As for Guhle, the 23-year-old defenseman underwent surgery for an adductor muscle and was given an eight-to-ten-week timeline. Matheson, 31 years old, is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and already has 16 points in 32 games. He also just accepted a five-year, 30-million extension beginning in 2026-2027.

Seeing four players on the ice on a day off speaks volumes about what comes next. The Canadiens still have to manage several injuries, but every image from Brossard gets people talking.

For fans, the Laine situation is moving, even if patience is still required.

The next step will be seeing him skate again, and February 28 remains the date to watch.