The Montreal Canadiens are making some serious noise this postseason, storming into the second round with a young, electrifying roster. As they face off against the Buffalo Sabres, however, one major question looms: Where is Patrik Laine?

The talented forward, who just turned 28, has been conspicuously absent. This season has been a far cry from his early days with the Winnipeg Jets, where he routinely posted 60- and 70-point campaigns. Instead, Laine has suited up for just five games this year, managing only a single assist.

So, what gives? The answer is an abdominal injury that has kept him sidelined for the vast majority of the season. Details have been scarce, leaving fans and analysts alike in the dark about his recovery timeline.

Here’s the twist: The Canadiens could bring Laine off long-term injured reserve if they wanted to. As Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin recently noted, Montreal would remain playoff-cap compliant even with his hefty cap hit activated. The problem? No one seems to know exactly what’s going on with his health. Without a fresh update, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Laine will hit the ice this postseason.

That’s a tough pill to swallow for Habs fans, especially considering what he could bring. A healthy Laine would add serious firepower to an already dangerous Montreal power play. But at this point, this season feels like a total wash for the former No. 2 overall pick. Don’t expect any playoff heroics from him—the focus remains on the young core that has carried the team this far.