There is an opening in the Montreal Canadiens lineup.
The team loaned forward Josh Roy to the AHL’s Laval Rocket on Monday, and did not make a corresponding move.
It clears the path for Patrik Laine to make his Canadiens debut — potentially as soon as Tuesday against the New York Islanders. The off-season trade addition was injured in an exhibition game on Sept. 28 and has yet to appear in the Montreal lineup.
Laine, however, did join the team on its recently completed road trip. On Monday, he posted a cryptic Instagram story of him posing in front of what appears to be a church and the caption “big week coming up … hopefully Father Andre is a hockey fan.”
The Canadiens acquired Laine and a second-round draft pick from Columbus in exchange for defenceman Jordan Harris in August.
But Laine’s Habs tenure was barely underway when he collided with Maple Leafs defenceman Cedric Paré. The Canadiens announced on Oct. 1 that he would be sidelined for two to three months. He resumed skating on his own on Nov. 6.
Roy, 21, did not record a point in four games with the Canadiens.
