Habs Daily: Laine’s Recovery, New Forward Lines, Weber, Fabbro

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on the weekend.

Montreal Canadiens News

Patrik Laine was spotted skating on Friday, an encouraging scene considering he was originally expected to miss 2–3 months due to his knee injury in late September. TVA Sports analyst Renaud Lavoie speculated Laine may even return to play by the end of November, however, as is always the case with injuries, it’s best to set expectations as low as possible. If Laine does happen to return early, it will be a pleasant surprise. [Injured Canadiens Forward Patrik Laine Spotted Skating]

Help is on the way 🙏 pic.twitter.com/9pX9hHxheK

— HFTV (@HFTVSports) November 10, 2024

The Habs lost 4-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, a predictable outcome given the disparity in talent between both teams. Unfortunately, unlike previous seasons, the Canadiens are fairly difficult to watch, in addition to losing most games. A lack of entertainment on the ice paired with a lack of success in the standings will always draw the ire of fans.  [Canadiens Instant Recap: Something’s Gotta Give]

Following the loss, head coach Martin St-Louis decided to mix things up in the top six. He split up captain Nick Suzuki and sniper Cole Caufield at practice on Sunday, a necessary step seeing as the two failed to rekindle their dominant chemistry from seasons past. Juraj Slafkovsky is expected to take Caufield’s place on the top line as the Habs face the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, at 12:30 pm ET. [Montreal Canadiens Split Up Caufield and Suzuki, New Lines]

Suzuki, like most other players in the lineup, has struggled in November, which means he understands why St-Louis is attempting to kick-start the offence with new line combinations. That being said, he still hopes to one day be reunited with Caufield.

#Habs Nick Suzuki on he & Caufield being on different lines: “Marty wants to shake things up I guess. He always told us him & Vinny [Lecavalier] used to get broken up every now and then so I’m sure we’ll be back together at some point but if both lines are going well, who knows”

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) November 10, 2024

The Nashville Predators placed right-handed defenceman Dante Fabbro on waivers Sunday, a decision that was bound to lead to a waiver claim, since RHDs rarely hit the waiver wire. The Canadiens opted not to put in a claim, but the Columbus Blue Jackets quickly put an end to the guessing game by giving the defenceman a new home.

Columbus claims Fabbro

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 10, 2024

Carey Price discussed former Canadiens captain Shea Weber’s impact on the team ahead of the November 16 ceremony to celebrate the rough-and-tumble defenceman’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.  [Shea Weber Inducted To Hockey Hall Of Fame]

Carey Price on his friend & former Habs teammate Shea Weber:

👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/UWQGAaRmqb

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 10, 2024

ICYMI: The Montreal Canadiens are still very much a work in progress, and one trade isn’t going to fix the issues on this club. With their main offseason acquisition in Patrik Laine out until at least December, and no major upgrade anywhere else in the lineup, expecting this club to be a playoff bubble team may have been a little too optimistic. Trades could be part of the solution, but they’re not the only way forward. [Why The Montreal Canadiens’ Woes Are Not A One-Trade Fix]

National Hockey Now Network

A couple of injured Pittsburgh Penguins forwards could be out of the lineup for a while, according to updates provided Sunday by coach Mike Sullivan following the team’s practice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

The 2024-25 season has been filled with its ups and it’s downs, but it’s been more positive than not for the New Jersey Devils. Still, there are some concerns from fans. [New Jersey Devils]

At one point in the not-so-distant past, the Philadelphia Flyers were in last place in the NHL, making them the de facto worst team in the league. Make no mistake about it, the Flyers are still in the midst of a rough patch, but they are now showing signs of life, even without star rookie Matvei Michkov. [Philadelphia Flyers]