Nobody knew what to expect when Patrik Laine returned to the Bell Centre on Tuesday night following his injury in the preseason. Not even those projecting the Four Nations Faceoff roster had the Finnish sniper on their list and Team Finland was tight-lipped on who was making the cut. Other nations rosters leaked out, but Finland made sure it was a surprise.
The biggest surprise might have been that Finland did put Patrik Laine on the roster despite the question marks surrounding his game and the injury he was recovering from. However, in speaking with RG, Finland’s General Manager, Jere Lehtinen, said the biggest reason he put Laine on the roster was his shot and power play prowess.
"Yeah, we know what he [Laine] is capable of doing," Lehtinen told RG. "He’s great on special teams, he has those skills. In a short tournament, the special teams are going to be a big part of that."
When Laine was injured in a pre-season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after colliding with Cedric Paré, it seemed like his hopes of playing for Finland and the Canadiens would have to wait. He was sidelined for two to three months with a sprained left knee, putting the Four Nations Faceoff into question.
However, as Jere Lehtinen told RG, he was in constant contact with Laine, getting an idea of his availability and timeline for a return to the Montreal Canadiens lineup.
"We've been talking with him, and then knowing where he's at. it's great for him and the Canadiens; he's back early from his injury and ready to go," Lehtinen told. “He was able to play last night [Tuesday night] and it was a great thing."
The Four Nations Faceoff is still a couple of months away, and that is plenty of time for Laine to get into game shape for Team Finland and the Canadiens. Plus, he gets a little holiday break for Christmas, which is coming up at the end of December.
However, Jere Lehtinen is happy to see Laine back on the ice because of the skill and difference he can bring to Finland in such a short tournament where every game matters.
Selecting a player who has one regular-season game in a calendar year is a major risk for any team in a short tournament, but Lehtinen, like the Canadiens this summer, is sure the gamble will pay off.
Jim Biringer
