Courtesy of Jason Mowry- USA Today Sports
A few weeks ago, it was announced that Columbus Blue Jackets’ forward Patrik Laine has been released from the NHL player assistance program, which he entered during the end of January, due to mental health struggles. Though it has been rumored that the Blue Jackets have been wanting to trade Laine, they and all other teams were forbidden from speaking with him while he was receiving treatment. Now that Laine is cleared, trade rumors have started blowing up the internet.
As some background, Laine was drafted second overall in the 2016 draft by the Winnipeg Jets. In 2021, he was acquired by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Throughout his NHL career so far, Laine has scored 204 goals and 184 assists in 480 games. This past season he hit a wall. Last season, Laine broke his clavicle, which ended his season after playing only 18 games, during which he only scored nine points, where he used to be a point-per-game player. Though signing Laine is risky, it is definitely likely that he needs a change of scenery to jumpstart his career again. Here are some teams that have shown interest in Laine and could be a good fit for him.
Pittsburgh Penguins
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The Penguins could be the best fit for Laine next season. It is evident that the Penguins’ core is aging. Laine is only 26 years old, and still clearly has a lot of fitness left in him. He is a pure shooter with a deadly shot, and he is capable of playing both center and wing. Combined with Sidney Crosby’s vision and passing skills as well as Drew O’Connor’s talent in faceoff situations, the three could create a top line that could be hard to beat. This past season, the Penguins were ranked 30th in the NHL in power play percentage. Laine could be a valuable addition to the manpower on the ice. Again, his one-timers and to-the-point shots could be just what is needed to move the Penguins’ power play to the next level. The Penguins also have the salary cap space to fit Laine and additional players on to their roster, should they decide to make the trade. Additionally, Penguins fans are dedicated and passionate about their team, and their energy on gameday could be instrumental in rousing Laine out of his slump. Whether Penguins’ president and general manager Kyle Dubas decides to go for Laine or not, it needs to be considered that he could be the key to giving the team’s aging core one last successful run together.
New York Rangers
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Though the Rangers have had a phenomenal past few seasons, it is no lie that there is a gaping hole in their lineup. Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad have been the core of the Rangers’ top line, but the team has had little luck filling that third spot. It has been rumored that the Rangers are on the lookout for a winger, and if they could get Laine back to being the goal scorer he was before his injuries, he might be just the player to fill that spot. The Rangers’ top notch coaching staff could not only help Laine recover, but find his confidence in the game again. Over the summer, the Rangers have expressed that salary cap space has been an issue. Because of this past season, Laine’s value should not be too high, allowing him to fit into their cap. Additionally, because Laine’s value is lower, the Blue Jackets would have to add draft picks and prospects to the deal to balance the value. Overall, if the Blue Jackets were to trade Laine to the Rangers, it would be dependent on what both teams would be willing to give up.
Minnesota Wild
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The Minnesota Wild have been the team rumored to be interested in Laine so far. With the Wild being a fringe playoff team for the past few years, they could use a player like Laine to help add more firepower to their lineup. A top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Laine could be fun to watch, as Kaprizov’s play-making abilities and Laine’s shooting could compliment each other really well. Additionally, St. Paul is a smaller city than Columbus, so it could be good for Laine to get out of the hustle and bustle as he builds back up. Similarly, St. Paul is full of dedicated hockey fans which could really be uplifting to Laine. Though the Wild may be a good fit for Laine, making the trade happen is a little complicated. Like the Rangers, the Wild do not have that much cap space and would have to trade some of their players to obtain Laine. Even if the Wild cannot trade for Laine this year due to cap space, they are projected to have more cap space after this upcoming season, so they could trade for him in the future.
Only time will tell which team Laine will pick, or whether the Blue Jackets will keep him because the preseason is close to starting. If Laine chooses to leave Columbus, these three teams could be great fits for Laine as he steadily makes his journey back to being ready to play in the NHL.
Edited by Jenna Mandarano
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