Doctor provides prognosis for Patrik Laine's injury: It's gone from bad to worse
Patrik Laine's potential for a serious injury has been revealed by Dr. Harjas Grewal, a physician who reports on NHL injuries and their severity.
Patrik Laine, who the Montreal Canadiens acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Jordan Harris ended up exiting the game in the first period of the Montreal Canadiens' preseason game vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs after suffering a knee-on-knee collision with the Leafs' Cedric Pare. Laine was seen immediately grabbing his knee and had to be helped off the ice.
The questions now surround about how bad the injury is and if Laine can recover from this quickly or if it's something that could put his season in jeopardy. Dr. Harjas Grewal, a doctor on X who comments on the severity of NHL injuries wrote about the potential for Laine's injury and the results don't look good at all.
Grewal states that at minimum, Laine would have suffered a bone bruise which would keep him out of action for an indeterminate amount of time but estimated to be week to week. It goes downhill from there as it leaps up to a torn meniscus, with a variable recovery time between 4-6 weeks and 4+ months; or either a torn ACL or MCL (or both) which would require some serious attention. The MCL would keep him out depending on the level of the tear, but effectively if it's an ACL injury his season is done.
It's a scary situation reminiscent of Kirby Dach's injury for Montreal last season and it follows the trend of several other stars who have been put out due to ACL injuries like Taylor Hall, and Mason Shaw, who has torn his ACL four separate times in his career.
With how Laine's knee buckled and bent; it really seems like a serious injury.
It's unfortunate for Montreal but especially for Laine; who has suffered a bunch of injuries recently in his career, and also had a stint with the NHLPA Player Assistance Program where he asked for assistance with regards to his mental health. With a new outlook on his career and a new team to lead (especially in arguably the league's most dynamic division) the world was Laine's oyster. However, let's hope this setback doesn't hinder Laine too much physically or mentally.
We will update you as more information is revealed on the extent on Laine's injury but for now, we just hope it's not too serious.
| POLL | ||
Will Montreal's Patrik Laine's injury be serious or will he return this season? | ||
| Mild - he returns before opener | 62 | 9.4 % |
| Moderate - returns mid-way | 233 | 35.3 % |
| High - returns for playoffs | 176 | 26.7 % |
| Severe - career threatening | 189 | 28.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
