Patrik Laine Not A Viable Option For Montreal Canadiens – Hockey Writers –

Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN's Insider Trading on Wednesday (June 12) that Patrik Laine is looking for a fresh start and that the Columbus Blue Jackets will try to make room for him. When this famous insider uttered these words, social media began to speculate and suggest trades. Montreal was no different, especially since Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes favored a rebuilding project. There are, however, many reasons why importing Finn will not work.

Laine's NHL career thus far

Laine was the Winnipeg Jets first round pick in the 2016 Draft and was taken second overall behind the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews. Interestingly, that year, the Blue Jackets took Pierre-Luc Dubois with the third pick, a player they would trade less than five years later for Finn.

Despite being a talented player, it hasn't gone well for the winger in the NHL. After two successful seasons in Winnipeg, he became somewhat lost and his offensive production declined. There was also friction with the veterans on the team and in the end, it all came down to Laine asking to be traded for the Manitoba asset.

Related: Maple Leafs Shouldn't Pursue Patrik Laine Trade

A change of scenery wasn't enough to get Laine back on the road to excellence. He suffered multiple injuries in Ohio and clashed with head coach John Tortorella. Down the road, it all led to him entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Before joining the show, Laine had been open about her mental health and there was no need to guess what led her to that point. Since he entered the show in late January, we haven't heard much from him, except when viewers tried to make fun of his mental health and made him and his organization go out on social media to criticize the incident. With all this in mind, it's no wonder he wants to turn over a new leaf and start fresh somewhere else.

Would A Move To Montreal Be In The Best Interest Of Both Parties?

It's no secret that the Canadiens need help up front, especially in the top-six scoring department. However, this is not the case. Currently, Laine has two years left on his contract with an estimated annual value of $8.7 million, which is $825,000 more than captain Nick Suzuki and $850,000 more than shooting guard Cole Caufield.

Laine's career high stands at 70 points, and he achieved that in 2017-18. Meanwhile, Suzuki's season best stands at 77 points and was recorded this season. The truth of the matter is, Suzuki has been steadily improving since joining the Canadiens. Laine's condition is unclear. There's no indication that Laine won't be the same point-per-game player he was in 2021-22 with Columbus, but there's still an impressive injury history there and plenty of unknowns.

When his contract is up, how much will Laine command? If he doesn't sign an extension before the end of his current deal, he could leave as an unrestricted free agent. If the Canadiens were to trade him and he spent the next two years trying to prove his worth without reaching an agreement with a team, Montreal would risk losing him entirely after investing some money to get him in Columbus.

If Laine can't regain his form, would he be willing to take a pay cut to stay in Montreal after his current contract expires? Somehow, I have a feeling he won't be ready to take over the club and fit under the Canadiens' existing salary structure. Hughes doesn't build his team with a few star players and no money left over to pay his full share, that's the Kyle Dubas way.

From a Mental Health perspective…

By the time Laine comes out of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, the star player will be ready to play in the NHL and will feel better about whatever has been holding him back. Would he be able to stay that way in a hockey-crazed market where the pressure on players can sometimes be close to unbearable?

If his start to work in Montreal is not satisfactory in the eyes of the fans or the media, it is believed that he can be used as a punching bag, figuratively of course. When things got tough in Montreal for Jonathan Drouin, he couldn't handle the attention, pressure and critics.

Ultimately, Drouin checked himself into the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, missing the rest of the season, and the Canadiens' long run to the Stanley Cup Final to take care of his mental health. Upon his return, he seemed less affected by the team's buzz, but the minute he got his chance, Drouin left as an unrestricted free agent and headed to a market where he wouldn't be “the guy”, but just. one of the boys, and succeeded there. It's hard not to like Laine's current situation and wonder if it would do him any good to go to such a market.

Will Trade for Laine Improve Team?

As silly as it may seem, finding a player of Laine's talent won't be expensive. If Columbus wants a return that includes some firemen, the Canadiens would likely give up one of Caufield or Suzuki, making the trade somewhat pointless as it would be a lateral move rather than a climb towards development. It would not make sense to rob Peter to pay Paul as they say.

Even if the Blue Jackets weren't too greedy with their price and could consider a package of picks and multiple defensemen from the Canadiens (which is highly unlikely), there will still be a matter of how little time is left on his contract as well. the pressure it would put on both parties to negotiate in order to reach an agreement. Whether he likes it or not, Laine would be harsh in those discussions because if his demands are not met, he can just walk away and be as free as a bird.

As tempting as it may seem to add such a large name to any program, it requires an assessment of the overall situation and careful consideration of all implications.