So much of the Canadiens' optimism this season was based on Laine's ability to be a game-changer. Now, he might be gone.

Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine suffered a potentially serious knee injury in Saturday's preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after a knee-on-knee collision with Cedric Paré early in the first period.

Preseason hockey can either be meaningless, boring hockey, or sheer chaos. Saturday night’s Toronto Maple Leafs game against the Montreal Canadiens was the latter.

How Patrik Laine’s devastating injury threatens the Canadiens’ plans to be in the mix for a playoff spot is anybody’s guess, but you have to think their chances of achieving that goal will be severely hindered by any long-term absence for Laine.