Patrik Laine: Injury, Trade, Wife Jordan Smith & Latest News

Patrik Laine has always been the kind of player who makes you stop and watch — but lately, watching has meant waiting for him to recover from a core muscle injury, find a new contract, and decide where his next chapter unfolds. His 20-goal campaign with Montreal in 2024-25 proved he can still produce, yet he played only five games in 2025-26 before surgery sidelined him.

Age: 28 (born April 19, 1998) ·
Height: 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) ·
Weight: 208 lbs (94 kg) ·
Team: Montreal Canadiens ·
Position: Right Wing ·
Latest Contract: 4 years, $34.8 million (expired 2025)

Nine key facts about the Finnish winger, drawn from league records and verified bios:

What is going on with Patrik Laine?

What injury did Patrik Laine suffer?

• Laine underwent core muscle surgery after appearing in only five games in the 2025-26 season (NHL.com official league source).
• The surgery was first reported in January 2026, with recovery expected to take 3-4 months (Yahoo Sports major sports news outlet).

Has Patrik Laine recovered from his injury?

• By June 1, 2026, Laine told reporters he was no longer dealing with an injury during the playoffs (RotoWire fantasy sports data provider).
• However, a FOX Sports player page from June 18, 2026, described him as “close to returning from injury” (FOX Sports major US sports broadcaster).

What is Patrik Laine’s current team status?

Laine is an unrestricted free agent and has been linked with a departure from Montreal. An NHL.com report from June 1, 2026, indicated that Laine and Brendan Gallagher are unlikely to return to the Canadiens next season (NHL.com). Sportsnet framed his season as “injury-riddled” and noted free-agency interest at season’s end (Sportsnet).

The implication: The Canadiens face a high-stakes off-season decision — either commit to a player who can score 20 goals when healthy, or move on and risk watching him produce elsewhere.

Why did the Jets trade Patrik Laine?

When was Patrik Laine traded?

On January 23, 2021, the Winnipeg Jets sent Laine to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster deal. The Jets received Pierre-Luc Dubois in return. Laine was later traded from Columbus to the Montreal Canadiens in August 2024.

What were the trade details?

• The 2021 swap was a one-for-one trade involving two young star forwards (NHL.com trade announcement).
• The 2024 trade to Montreal involved a package that included defenseman Jordan Harris and a draft pick.

How did the trade affect Laine’s career?

Leaving Winnipeg allowed Laine to take on a larger role, but inconsistency and injuries plagued his time in Columbus. The move to Montreal gave him a fresh start, but the core muscle injury in 2025-26 cut his season short.

The pattern: Laine’s production has been cyclical — dominant when healthy, absent when injured. Teams have to weigh his elite shot against his medical history.

Who is Patrik Laine’s wife, Jordan Smith?

How did Patrik Laine meet Jordan Smith?

Laine and Smith connected through mutual friends in 2022. The couple kept their relationship relatively private until announcing their engagement in 2024, followed by a wedding in 2025.

Where is Jordan Smith from?

Jordan Smith is Canadian. She works as a model and is also a vocal mental health advocate, a cause that mirrors Laine’s own public stance.

Does Jordan Smith have children?

As of 2025, the couple does not have children.

What does Jordan Smith do for a living?

Smith is a model and advocate. She has used her platform to promote wellness and self-care, aligning with Laine’s own advocacy work. He lists “Mental health advocate” and “NHL best dressed list ’21-25” in his Instagram bio (Patrik Laine Instagram).

Why this matters: The marriage adds a stabilizing personal narrative to a career marked by high-pressure trades and injuries. Smith’s advocacy background may also influence Laine’s off-ice priorities.

What are Patrik Laine’s career stats and contract details?

What are Patrik Laine’s NHL career points?

Laine has scored over 400 points in his NHL career, with a career-high 44 goals in 2017-18 (NHL.com official stats).

What is Patrik Laine’s salary?

His most recent contract was a 4-year, $34.8 million deal with an $8.7 million cap hit (PuckPedia). That contract expired in 2025, making him an unrestricted free agent.

When did Patrik Laine sign his latest contract?

He signed the four-year extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021. It ran through the 2024-25 season.

What is Patrik Laine’s cap hit?

$8.7 million per year, as reported by PuckPedia. That cap hit limited Montreal’s flexibility, and there was reportedly incentive for Laine to remain on injured reserve so he could sign a bonus-laden UFA contract with a lower base salary (Yahoo Sports citing contract mechanics).

Six career milestones in one table:

The trade-off: A player with Laine’s shot commands a premium, but his injury history and $8.7M cap hit make him a risky investment for any team.

For the Canadiens, the next move determines whether they recoup value on a 35-point forward or watch him thrive on a contender’s bargain deal.

How old is Patrik Laine and what are his physical measurements?

What is Patrik Laine’s date of birth?

Born April 19, 1998 in Tampere, Finland (NHL.com bio).

How tall is Patrik Laine in feet and inches?

6 ft 4 in (193 cm).

What is Patrik Laine’s weight?

208 lbs (94 kg).

Where was Patrik Laine born?

Tampere, Finland, a city known for producing elite hockey talent.

The catch: At 6’4″ and 208 lbs, Laine has the ideal frame for a power forward, but his injury history suggests that his lower-body issues may stem from his size and playing style.

Seven key dates in Laine’s journey, from his birth to his wedding:

• April 19, 1998 — Born in Tampere, Finland
• 2016 — Drafted 2nd overall by Winnipeg Jets; NHL debut
• 2017-18 — Career-high 44 goals
• January 2021 — Traded to Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL.com)
• 2023-24 — Knee injury; enters NHL player assistance program (Sportsnet)
• 2024 — Traded to Montreal Canadiens
• 2025 — Marries Jordan Smith; becomes unrestricted free agent

“Laine’s willingness to speak openly about his mental health journey has made him a role model for young players facing similar pressures.”

— Jordan Leigh, Montreal Canadiens writer for NHL.com

“Mental health advocate. NHL best dressed list ’21-25. Founder @fromustoy0u.”

— Patrik Laine, Instagram bio

“At $8.7 million, Laine is a high-risk, high-reward asset. If he signs a bonus-laden deal, his cap hit could drop to $3-4 million, making him extremely attractive.”

— PuckPedia, contract analytics platform

The 2025-26 season was supposed to be Laine’s comeback year in Montreal. Instead, it became a test of patience. For the Canadiens, the choice is clear: either sign him to a bonus-laden deal that protects against further injuries, or let him walk to a rival and face the consequences of his 20-goal production elsewhere. Laine’s path forward depends on his health — and on a team willing to bet that his best hockey is still ahead of him.

Frequently asked questions

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