Patrick Johnston: If a player is healthy, they’re supposed to be on the roster<\/p>\n
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Published Jun 01, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Keeping a player on the injured reserve list once they\u2019ve recovered from injury is supposed to be a huge no-no in the NHL.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n This is apparently what happened with Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine this past season \u2014 so the former scoring star admitted Monday in conversations with reporters at the team\u2019s end-of-season media day.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Laine spent most of the season on IR after suffering a core muscle injury in October. At the time, the team said he needed surgery and would be out three to four months.<\/p>\n It was no surprise that he returned to the ice in January and went through an as-expected injury recovery, slowly but surely getting backup to full speed and becoming a full participant in drills.<\/p>\n \u201cI probably could have played after New Year\u2019s,\u201d Laine revealed to reporters, confirming what many had wondered about for weeks. But, for whatever reason, he never suited up again for Montreal.<\/p>\n General manager Kent Hughes had a somewhat nuanced explanation when he was asked Monday about what happened to the 28-year-old sniper, who was in the last year of a four-year contract that averaged $8.7 million per season. He signed the deal with his previous team, the Columbus Blue Jackets.<\/p>\n \u201cLaine was behind because of his injury. We were getting into a situation where we absolutely had to win,\u201d Hughes said. So, in other words, he wasn\u2019t going to be an option, fit or not.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe he could have pushed and tried to play, but by then it was too late,\u201d the GM went on. \u201cHe was an incredible teammate.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s nice, but the simple truth is if he\u2019s been cleared medically to play, he\u2019s not supposed to be on injured reserve. He\u2019s supposed to be on the active roster.<\/p>\n And if you are the NHLPA, you are surely concerned: There\u2019s a good reason injured reserve exists. But the system requires trust and if there\u2019s a suspicion team doctors can be manipulated into saying a player is injured when they clearly are no longer, where does this all end? Laine didn\u2019t complain. In his post-season comments, he went on to say he was proud of his team. Management praised him for his attitude.<\/p>\n But he would have been within every right to complain about what was going on.<\/p>\n And I would be shocked if other teams don\u2019t complain on this one.<\/p>\n When the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> put in post-season practices in 2023, they had the hammer fall on them heavily. There was a rule change that came out of it, but the team was also warned, clearly, that they\u2019d run afoul of the rules and it wasn\u2019t to happen again.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Like the Vegas Golden Knights were just punished for running afoul of media access rules after repeated warnings, it\u2019s hard to imagine the Canadiens won\u2019t be read the riot act about these Laine shenanigans.<\/p>\n People have been mad enough in recent seasons about teams, like Vegas, using the long-term injured reserve system to their advantage going into the playoffs. This isn\u2019t quite the same since the Habs had the cap space to work with, but it\u2019s still an issue of working conditions. Players should be able to expect that they\u2019ll be treated fairly by their team\u2019s medical staff and that they won\u2019t be pressured to do things with their health in any way, shape or form.<\/p>\n Of course, there\u2019s also the final point raised, smartly, by TSN\u2019s Pierre Lebrun: Because Laine missed substantial time this season on IR, he\u2019s actually eligible to sign an incentive-laden performance bonus contract. Normally only players over 35, or on their entry-level deal, can sign contracts that start with a low AAV but can be escalated through performance bonuses. But if you spend a season chiefly out injured, you can sign one of these deals because that minimizes risk for potential signing teams and opens up the options for a player who might have injury questions hanging over them.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Given a capped out team would pay out any contract overages in the subsequent season, there\u2019s now also plenty of reason for the league\u2019s top teams, who might otherwise not be interested in taking a risk on a player who scored 20 goals in 52 games in his previous season with Montreal, to take a risk on Laine.<\/p>\n What\u2019s to lose on a guy who should score, but who might flake off, if your opening commitment is minimal? Not much.<\/p>\n That, though, ignores the bigger point: There are rules. If a player is healthy, they aren\u2019t supposed to be on IR. That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n The league\u2019s credibility demands that these rules be enforced.<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n![\"Montr\u00e9al](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7514_303469720.jpg\")
Montr\u00e9al Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine speaks to the media in the locker room as the Canadiens season comes to an end, in Montreal, on Monday, June 1, 2026. Photo by Allen McInnis \/Montreal GazetteArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.3.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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