\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 23, 2026\u00a0\u00a0(9:42 PM)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t ![\"Montreal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/653584.webp.webp\" "\\"Montreal")
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Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Fran\u00e7ois Gagnon has just revealed major information regarding Patrik Laine’s situation.<\/p>\n
The sports journalist answered fans’ questions on his social media over the last few hours.<\/p>\n
Officially, the forward’s name is still on the Montreal Canadiens’ injured list.<\/p>\n
The organization continues to cite an injury to justify this prolonged absence from the lineup, but the fans are not fooled.<\/p>\n
The player has been practicing regularly with his teammates for nearly a month at the Brossard sports complex.<\/p>\n
Actively taking part in on-ice drills clearly shows that he has returned to physical form. This contradiction is raising a lot of questions among Montreal Canadiens fans.<\/p>\n
Fran\u00e7ois Gagnon provided some clarification on this matter. According to his analysis, Patrik Laine is fully accepting this status imposed by management.<\/p>\n
Officially, he’s still unavailable due to injury. That said, he’s been practicing like a regular for about a month.<\/p>\n
My read: he’s okay with it. If not, his agent would ask the NHLPA to get involved and force the Habs to take him off IR.<\/p>\n
– Francois Gagnon\/RDS<\/p>\n
Is Patrik Laine voluntarily accepting to remain sidelined?<\/p>\n
If the athlete were refusing this situation, his agent would quickly step in on the matter.<\/p>\n
The player’s representative would demand the direct involvement of the NHL Players’ Association to resolve the dispute.<\/p>\n
Forcing Kent Hughes to remove his client from the injured list would become the normal procedure to follow.<\/p>\n
The silence from the player’s camp proves that an agreement exists between the two parties.<\/p>\n
Head coach Martin St-Louis is therefore planning his games without having to use Laine.<\/p>\n
Winning games remains the team’s only priority in order to reach the playoffs, for the time being.<\/p>\n
The situation is expected to remain this way until the end of the team’s schedule. Kent Hughes will have to make a final decision on Patrik Laine’s future this summer.<\/p>\n
Until then, the forward will continue practicing with the group without taking part in games.<\/p>\n
Patrik Laine, 27, has recorded 1 point in 5 games this season. We are talking here about a 6-foot-5 forward who was a 1st-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2016.<\/p>\n
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics<\/p>\n
POLL<\/p>\n
8 HOURS AGO|126 ANSWERS<\/p>\n
Journalist sheds light on why Patrik Laine remains sidelined despite practicing<\/p>\n
Do you believe Patrik Laine is happy not to be playing?<\/p>\n
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