Tonight could mark the long-awaited return of one of the Canadiens’ most controversial veterans

That's the part that jumps out. Laine was around the regular mix again, yet the projected lineup still had him listed as a scratch for the road game against the Rangers.

Montreal's forward look carried one clear change down low. Joe Veleno was projected with Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher, a unit that immediately grabbed attention because it pushed Laine one step farther from game action.

It matters because this isn't a minor shuffle on a quiet day. St. Louis was coming off a 4-1 win against Tampa Bay on Tuesday and, for now, the expectation was that he would use the same lineup again.

That tells you what the staff is protecting here. The Canadiens are in a stretch where every detail matters, and St. Louis looks more interested in line stability than forcing Laine back into the mix too early.

Montreal also isn't operating from a place of comfort. The club entered the night at 43-21-10, so these aren't throwaway decisions made in the middle of a lost season.

Laine's presence near the trios still means something. When a scorer with his profile is skating in those rotations, the bench is clearly keeping the door open, even if the final card still leaves him out.

But the bigger development is what the Canadiens seem to value on that fourth line. Veleno's pace, Danault's structure and Gallagher's forecheck give St. Louis a line he can trust for hard minutes and defensive-zone work.

That's where the pressure lands on Laine. This isn't only about talent or finishing touch. It's about whether he can crack a group that already has defined jobs from the top six down to the bottom six.

Veleno's case has been building for a bit. He had 4 points in 51 games entering this spot, and those numbers don't scream offense, but they do show why his usage is about detail more than flash.

Gallagher's role adds another layer. Put him beside a center like Danault and a worker like Veleno, and that line becomes more about puck pressure, wall battles and surviving shifts cleanly than chasing offense.

That leaves Laine in a tough spot heading into puck drop. He's close enough to stay in the conversation, but not quite far enough ahead of the current mix to force St. Louis' hand.

And that's why this morning setup stood out. Seeing Patrik Laine around the Canadiens' trios creates buzz, but the sharper message was that Montreal still trusted its existing group more when the game got real.

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