The Columbus Blue Jackets are considering trading star forward Patrik Laine after he cleared the NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program. The team’s general manager, Don Waddell, confirmed Laine’s desire to move on but is working to find a deal that suits both sides. In the meantime, other franchises have been given permission to negotiate with Laine and his agent.
The 26-year-old Laine is a rarity in the league. He’s played fewer than 500 NHL games and has already scored 204 career goals, meaning there will be plenty of interest in the prolific winger. A deal will likely be done before the regular season begins, but who is in the running to acquire Patrik Laine?
The Capitals are desperate to win a championship while Alex Ovechkin is still captain, and they improved their overall depth with the additions of goaltender Logan Thompson, defenseman Jakob Chychrun, center Pierre-Luc Dubois and winger Andrew Mangiapane.
According to NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen, there may still be big changes remaining for the team, and when asked recently if the Capitals were making a move for Laine, he sparked rumors with his response.
“The Capitals should make a move for him,” he wrote in a recent article, “especially considering Kuznetsov’s agreement with the Hurricanes gives him a $3.9 million release clause.”
The Canadiens are looking to take the next step in their organizational progress after recently signing first-overall pick forward Juraj Slavkovskiy to an eight-year contract extension worth $60.8 million, keeping three of their core players with the team for the long term.
Even more helpful is that having another scoring talent behind Cole Caufield would be a perfect fit for Patrik Laine, who is just 26 years old but would fit right into the current lineup, and would also be joining the team in a supporting role, which could give him an advantage when he returns to the NHL after an extended break.
The Utah Hockey Club is off to a great start to their inaugural season. The acquisitions of defensemen John Marino and Mikhail Sergachev were great additions to the team’s defensive line. Now, what they really need is a scoring winger like Patrik Laine. They already have room to absorb his contract, as they currently have about $10 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia.
Utah’s offense needs improvement. Clayton Keller is a dynamic player, but a few more assists and versatility would go a long way in a crowded Central division. If Utah wants to get their offensive momentum going again, acquiring Patrick Laine would be just the thing to do it.
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