These offensive players who experienced a (small) renaissance in Montreal

The strong return of Patrik Laine has delighted Canadian fans so far, the Finn having largely contributed to the rise in the standings of Martin St-Louis’ squad, and he is not quite the first offensive player to be reborn from his ashes in Montreal.

With 10 goals in 15 outings this season, Laine is a nice surprise if we take into account the challenges he has gone through before. The 26-year-old skater often visited the infirmary and even followed the special assistance program for National League (NHL) players during the last campaign. Injured in the collarbone in 2023-2024, he has also been affected in the abdomen, elbow, triceps and ankle since 2021.

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And that’s without counting the knee-to-knee contact with Cédric Paré, which occurred during an exhibition match, which caused him to miss several weeks of activities before his return to play on December 3. But that didn’t stop the former Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets from bouncing back, having been limited to six goals in 18 games last year. His production rate in terms of goals scored compares to that of 2017-2018 when he hit the target 44 times in 82 games in Manitoba.

Here are some other attackers recognized for their scoring qualities who had good times with the CH after having experienced problems elsewhere.

Ilya Kovalchuk

Even if the Russian’s Montreal experience was very short-lived in the winter of 2020, it left a favorable impression. Kovalchuk arrived in the Quebec metropolis after an unsuccessful stay with the Los Angeles Kings, who bought out his three-year contract. With the Habs, he collected six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 22 games, in addition to maintaining a differential of +6 within a club in difficulty. His good performance convinced the Washington Capitals to trade for his services shortly before the trade deadline.

Thomas Tatar

Certainly, the veteran remains criticized for his problems in the playoffs. However, he delivered the goods in the regular season with the Canadian. Acquired in September 2018 in the Nick Suzuki-Max Pacioretty trade, he was passed over by the Vegas Golden Knights during their run to the Stanley Cup Final the previous spring. Additionally, Tatar was coming off a campaign of just 34 points. However, he responded with 58 and 61 points during his first two years in Montreal. And he added 30 in 51 games in the 2020-2021 campaign, shortened by the pandemic.

Alexander Radulov

Well, we understand that Radulov’s presence in this ranking is not linked to a drop in production. Because before signing a one-year contract with the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge in the summer of 2016, the former color-bearer of the Quebec Remparts had spent four years in the Continental League, where he maintained the usual pace. His return to the NHL was successful, since it allowed the CH to finish at the top of the Atlantic section. “Radu” finished his only year in Montreal with 18 goals and 54 points, adding two goals and five assists in the first round series against the New York Rangers in the spring of 2017.

Alex Kovalev

Why not spoil yourself in this list by including one of the most spectacular players that Montreal fans have known? Few remember it, but before being traded to CH in February 2004, Kovalev was having a hard time with the Rangers. He was satisfied with 13 goals and 42 points in 65 matches, which represented a significant drop in performance compared to his past. Fortunately for Sainte-Flanelle, the rest was more glorious, apart from the year 2006-2007. The Russian totaled 264 points in 314 duels in the French uniform, which includes his haul of 84 points from 2007-2008, a season in which the CH finished at the top of the Eastern Association.

Frank Mahovlich

Older Canadian fans are not left out in this article. They remember this former great enemy who led the Toronto Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cups. Frank Mahovlich joined his younger brother Pete in Montreal when he was traded by the Detroit Red Wings in January 1971; if his production of 32 points in 35 games at Michigan was not bad, it was much more sustained with his new team. After amassing 41 points in 38 games to close the schedule, he accumulated 27 in the playoffs to help Ken Dryden and the CH win the Stanley Cup. With the Habs, he scored 310 points in just 263 games and won another championship in 1973.