A potential trade for Patrik Laine took a significant step forward on Friday, as interested teams can now negotiate directly with him.
According to multiple reports, Laine has been cleared to return from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, where he has been since January but has not played in a game since December.
Now that Laine is cleared to return, what happens next? And who would be interested in trading for him? These are some of the questions we’re trying to answer.
What to expect next
There probably won’t be much said publicly, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, both on the Blue Jackets’ side and on the Laine’s side.
Laine had expressed an interest in a fresh start under the previous system under general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, and that desire is reportedly undiminished even with new leadership in place.
Patrik Laine has been cleared to return through the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
But Laine has expressed a desire to leave Columbus, and general manager Don Waddell will do everything in his power to accommodate that request, though if nothing satisfactory comes of it, there remains a chance Laine could start for the Blue Jackets.
For their part, the Blue Jackets need to evaluate all their options, see who is interested and what they might get in return in a trade.
The Blue Jackets would prefer to work out a trade to get Laine’s entire contract off the books, but that could limit the number of teams able to make such a trade.
If the Blue Jackets are open to staying, more teams would be in the running, and with more competition they could consider a bit more compensation, perhaps making it more feasible to acquire a better prospect or a higher draft pick.
The biggest question for the Blue Jackets is how much leverage they would have in a trade. Laine is asking to be moved and is at a low end in terms of value, so it would be hard to get anything significant in return. That’s why they want to involve as many teams as possible, so they have more options to consider. But if the trade is too inconsequential, a team might decide it’s better to keep Laine. Then they’d have to deal with all the chaos that could come from such a decision.
For the Blue Jackets, getting Laine’s final two years off the books entirely and getting some of their assets back seems like the best-case scenario in a trade.
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The most important thing for Laine is that he’s out of the program. It’s a sign that he’s been feeling better lately. He’s been training for the season. Also, he’s still recovering from shoulder surgery. The team can talk to him directly to get the full picture of the situation.
Recall the message Laine sent before joining the program: “I realized that in order to perform at my best, I needed to use this time to focus on myself. I look forward to clearing my mind and returning to the ice with renewed energy.” Her removal from the program is a sign from her doctor’s perspective that Laine is ready to act.
Laine’s goal scoring will catch the eye of many teams. It should be remembered that despite his performance last season, he still has 52 points in 56 games in 2022-23, nearly a point per game. He is still capable of producing and should have many productive years ahead of him. He will want to join a winning team where his goal scoring can help take the team to the next level.
Who would be interested?
This is just my personal opinion. The team that continues to stand out is the Carolina Hurricanes. Laine would benefit greatly from playing under coach Rod Brind’Amour. He’d also be playing alongside fellow countryman Sebastian Aho. It would add a dynamic to an already talented team. And then there’s still the issue of Martin Necas. Is there a trade framework somewhere?
The Hurricanes wouldn’t be the only team interested in a 30-40 goal scorer. I understand there are cap issues, but the Florida Panthers would make a lot of sense, especially if the Blue Jackets stay. Why not a team like the Chicago Blackhawks? They need pieces around Connor Bedard, right? They have the cap room.
There should be enough interest in Laine that the Blue Jackets shouldn’t have a problem striking a deal. The question is, is the deal worth it for them to pull the trigger?
A major hurdle was cleared on Friday: teams can now negotiate with Laine without any restrictions. How those talks go will determine what offers the Blue Jackets receive. It’ll be very interesting to see what happens next over the next week or two.
