Canadiens winger Patrik Laine expected to be out 2 to 3 months with knee sprain

MONTREAL (AP) — Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine is expected to miss two to three months with a sprained left knee that won’t require surgery.

The Canadiens announced the injury update Tuesday after Laine exited early in Saturday’s 2-1 preseason loss to Toronto following a knee-on-knee collision with Maple Leafs forward Cédric Paré.

While Laine avoided the worst, the Canadiens announced earlier Tuesday that rookie defenseman David Reinbacher is out five to six months after undergoing surgery on his left knee.

Laine crumpled to the ice moments after Reinbacher — the No. 5 pick at last year’s draft — fell awkwardly from a hit by Toronto’s Marshall Rifai.

Laine joined the Canadiens via trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Aug. 19, generating excitement for a fan base deprived of playoff hockey the past three seasons.

Montreal traded defenseman Jordan Harris but also acquired a second-round draft pick in 2026 while taking on Laine’s $8.7 million salary cap hit for two seasons.

The 26-year-old sharpshooter from Finland scored a career-high 44 goals as a sophomore with the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18 and was excited for a fresh start in Montreal after a challenging year with the Blue Jackets.

Laine had six goals and three assists in 18 games before he broke his clavicle on Dec. 14. He also sought help from the NHL’s player assistance program in January for his mental health and was cleared in July.

Reinbacher was likely to start the season with the Laval Rocket, Montreal’s American Hockey League affiliate.

The 19-year-old from Austria spent the last two seasons with Switzerland’s Kloten HC.

He also registered two goals and three assists in 11 games with Laval late last season.

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Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Reinbacher (64) battles for position with New Jersey Devils Mike Hartman (39) during the thrid period of a preseason NHL hockey game in Montreal, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' David Reinbacher (64) gets hit in the face by Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Domi (11) as they skate along the boards during the second period of a preseason NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens Patrik Laine (92) is checked by Philadelphia Flyers Louie Belpedio (37) during the third period of an NHL preseason hockey game in Montreal on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Patrik Laine (92) lies on the ice after a collision with a Toronto Maple Leafs player during the first of an NHL preseason hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Evan Buhler/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Patrik Laine (92) is helped off the ice by teammates following a collision with a Toronto Maple Leas player during first period NHL preseason game in Montreal on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Evan Buhler/The Canadian Press via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — One of two doctors charged in the investigation of the death of Matthew Perry is expected to plead guilty Wednesday in a federal court in Los Angeles to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine.

Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego, signed a plea agreement with prosecutors in August and would be the third person to plead guilty in the aftermath of the “Friends” star’s fatal overdose last year.

Prosecutors offered lesser charges to Chavez and two others in exchange for their cooperation as they go after two targets they deem more responsible for the overdose death: another doctor and an alleged dealer that they say was known as “ketamine queen” of Los Angeles.

Chavez is free on bond after turning over his passport and surrendering his medical license, among other conditions.

His lawyer Matthew Binninger said after Chavez's first court appearance on Aug. 30 that he is “incredibly remorseful” and is “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here.”

Also working with federal prosecutors are Perry’s assistant, who admitted to helping him obtain and inject ketamine, and a Perry acquaintance, who admitted to acting as a drug messenger and middleman.

The three are helping prosecutors in their prosecution of Dr. Salvador Plasencia, charged with illegally selling ketamine to Perry in the month before his death, and Jasveen Sangha, a woman who authorities say sold the actor the lethal dose of ketamine. Both have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

Chavez admitted in his plea agreement that he obtained ketamine from his former clinic and from a wholesale distributor where he submitted a fraudulent prescription.

After a guilty plea, he could get up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced.

Perry was found dead by his assistant on Oct. 28. The medical examiner ruled ketamine was the primary cause of death. The actor had been using the drug through his regular doctor in a legal but off-label treatment for depression that has become increasingly common.

Perry began seeking more ketamine than his doctor would give him. About a month before the actor's death, he found Plasencia, who in turn asked Chavez to obtain the drug for him.

“I wonder how much this moron will pay,” Plasencia texted Chavez. The two met up the same day in Costa Mesa, halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, and exchanged at least four vials of ketamine.

After selling the drugs to Perry for $4,500, Plasencia asked Chavez if he could keep supplying them so they could become Perry’s “go-to.”

Perry struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on “Friends,” when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC’s megahit sitcom.

FILE - Matthew Perry appears at the GQ Men of the Year Party in West Hollywood, Calif., on Nov. 17, 2022. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Dr. Mark Chavez, center, a physician from San Diego, who is charged in connection with actor Matthew Perry's death from an accidental ketamine overdose, arrives at the Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)