Report: Minnesota Wild Interested in Patrik Laine – Hockey Writers – Minnesota Wild

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been trying to reach an agreement to trade forward Patrik Laine for what feels like forever, and it appears there may be a new team interested in acquiring his services. According to a recent article posted by TSN, the Minnesota Wild are interested in Laine, and general manager (GM) Bill Guerin will reach out at some point to check Laine's interest in playing in Minnesota. While the deal may be difficult to pull off due to his large contract, it appears that the trade may be closer to the finish line than originally thought.

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Laine, 26, was recently cleared to return to the ice after receiving treatment from the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program. After some injury issues and a slow offensive season, it seemed clear to fans that his time in Columbus was coming to an end, and the team was very open to trying to move him to another team to give him a fresh start. Last season, he played in only 18 games and scored six goals and added three assists for nine points. In the 2022–23 season, he played in 55 games scoring 22 goals and adding 30 assists for 52 points, and had 56 points in 56 games during the 2021–22 campaign. His ability as a hockey player has never been in question, but it's time for a fresh start, and it seems like the Wild would be interested in giving him one.

What makes Laine Wild?

Although Laine is often held under the microscope by fans due to his defensive lapses, he is a solid player who can be a powerful offensive producer if utilized properly. As a striker, he has played both sides of the wing in his career and has been a solid player on both. When it comes to what he can bring to the Wild, it's simple: He adds depth to their middle-six forward group. Bringing him in would give the Wild more flexibility with their forward lines and make them a formidable team on paper heading into the new campaign. While Marcus Johansson is a solid player on the left side, moving him down to the third line could boost the team's top six and release offensive production from their depth going forward.

The Wild will be looking to push for a playoff spot this season, so having trade talks for a solid scorer shouldn't come as a surprise. Laine may push the needle enough for the Wild to be considered contenders and make them a tough team to beat heading into the postseason. With solid pieces already in Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and Marat Khusnutdinov rounding out their roster, they could be a tricky force if they add Laine.

It's hard to gauge what a trade for him will end up looking like. His name has been in trade rumors for a long time, and according to Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell, he would prefer if he didn't have to keep 50% of his contract, adding that he would have already traded Laine if he wanted to keep that much.

In the same article, the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabers are listed as two other teams interested in Laine, but there is no real indication of which team might be the frontrunner or how much interest each team has in signing him.