Patrik Laine is officially back in action, and he has already scored his very first goal with the Montreal Canadiens.

Under the circumstances, it’s safe to say his debut game with the Canadiens was convincing, even though, once again, it wasn’t easy for his linemates.

In fact, some analysts are already wondering if Martin St-Louis should make a change involving Laine.

Patrik Laine placed with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the top line?

That’s what many are already calling for.

Should Patrik Laine play on the Canadiens’ first line?

Pierre McGuire: “I would love to see Caufield, Laine, and Suzuki form a line..He can create magic!”

– via Tony Marinaro’s podcast

It would be so much simpler and solve so many problems if Kirby Dach could rediscover his form and become a dominant second-line center, but that’s not the case right now.

This is one of those situations where Sean Monahan would have been incredibly valuable to the Montreal Canadiens.

Imagine the following top-6:

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield

Dach-Monahan-Laine

That would change everything, but for now, it will be interesting to see what Martin St-Louis does until the front office finds a solution.

In several experts’ opinion, Patrik Laine needs to be placed in an advantageous position, and I’m not convinced that’s currently the case with Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach.

If it were your decision, what would you do?

A story to follow in Montreal in the coming days.