Habs confirm devastating update on Patrik Laine.

The Montreal Canadiens will be without one of their top forwards for the majority of the 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season.

On Saturday, the Canadiens officially confirmed that forward Patrik Laine would be out for months following a surgical procedure to repair an injury. The Canadiens have released the following details via an official statement:

Forward Patrik Laine underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury. The procedure was performed by Dr. Mark Zoland at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York. Laine's recovery period is estimated to be three to four months.

The news comes after what was a tough start to the season for Laine who had no goals and only a single assist in his first 5 games of the regular season, and quite frankly seemed to struggle to find his spot on this new look Canadiens roster. A major injury of this nature is likely only going to make that all the more difficult, with Laine now out of action until well into the next calendar year.

Laine also seemed like a likely candidate for Finland's roster at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games, and one has to wonder how this much time off the ice might impact his eligibility or even his candidacy when it comes to make that team. Should Laine find himself on the longer side of this recovery timeline, it seems all but impossible to think he would be ready in time to play in that tournament.

A devastating update for the Canadiens to be sure but even tougher news for Laine himself who now has his Olympic hopes in jeopardy and is sidelined in what is a hugely important season for the veteran forward who is on an expiring contract.