Confirmed with Link: Laine, 2nd 2026 to Montreal for Jordan Harris

[CBJx614]

This is where I have landed. If you are cutting between two guys you can’t have your legs that far apart.

Also, after watching Laine get injured a bunch, why would you design a play where Laine has the puck and enters the offensive zone? You have a healthy and refocused Laine - have him find his spot and then feed him one timers.

That was my first initial thought, like your trying to split the D and you can keep your stance wide and aren't moving your feet?!

 

[CanadienShark]

Hey all, I'm curious how Harris has looked and where exactly in the lineup you see him this year? I'm assuming 3rd pair, potentially moving up to the 2nd if you move Provorov? Cheers in advance for any insight!

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

More knowledgeable folks can correct me if I'm wrong, but so far Harris is not guaranteed a spot on the opening night roster. We have a conundrum with our young defensemen (Jiricek, Mateychuk) and what to do with them, and we do have some more veteran D depth too in the form of Christiansen (who's looked good) and Jack Johnson. So Harris at this point looks like a 6-8D. So the battle is still on for the last spots and it's hard to say who gets those.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Hey all, I'm curious how Harris has looked and where exactly in the lineup you see him this year? I'm assuming 3rd pair, potentially moving up to the 2nd if you move Provorov? Cheers in advance for any insight!

To add to TPT's post above, we have four guys pretty much guaranteed spots, and five guys about whom decisions will have to be made. Harris is among the latter, through no fault of his own.

 

[CanadienShark]

To add to TPT's post above, we have four guys pretty much guaranteed spots, and five guys about whom decisions will have to be made. Harris is among the latter, through no fault of his own.

Since I'm not able to like (?), I appreciate the response!

 

[AndBoomGoesTheCannon]

Since I'm not able to like (?), I appreciate the response!

You must be on @Viqsi ‘s list

 

[Viqsi]

You must be on @Viqsi ‘s list

I am not at liberty to confirm or deny anything.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Patrick really seems like a nice person.....I really hope he can get back on the ice soon

 

[LetsGOJackets!!]

That's not why we traded him away. Have you not read up on the team in the last four plus months?

no, must admit that I haven't. Laine didn't want to play for us and he didn't seem to fit in here. and now we have no star forwards with Laine traded, and Gaudreau tragically gone.

 

[NotCommitted]

There was an interview on Laine on YLE website (Finnish national broadcaster), where he talks about his problems in a bit more detail for the first time AFAIK. I know people have moved on, but since it's the first time he has really said anything specific about things, thought some people might still find it of value.

TL;DR - his problems with depression and sleep deprivation started after his father died and seems like the injuries 23-24 were the last straw, so pretty much confirms what I guess most people thought about it.

Some quotes from the interview, translations mine.

"Things started going downhill a few years ago when my father died. After that I started having all sorts of sleep issues, I couldn't get enough sleep and the tiredness added up. On top of that there were the injuries and other things." (edit: not sure what the 'other things' here are, but maybe braking up with his long term girlfriend? I don't remember when that happened)

"The mental problems started to affect everything. It started affecting my work, that is playing hockey. Personal relationships also suffered, I found no joy in anything."

"I had weeks where I didn't want to see anyone or leave home. I didn't want to do anything and I didn't enjoy the things I normally enjoy. I had no energy and nothing interested me."

on 23-24
"Again got injured a couple times right at the start of season and I started getting really depressed. Just as I was about to get back to playing, I just suddenly started feeling like I just can't do this anymore."

"[entering PAP] was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make for myself, after all hockey is a sport I've loved all my life and which I've given my everything to. Having to put playing hockey to the sidelines was a difficult decision, but the best one I've ever made."

 

[ColumbusTrill]

Did we know this? From Russo's article today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5953972/2024/11/27/wild-david-jiricek-spurgeon-defense/?source=emp_shared_article

The Wild have had all sorts of conversations with Don Waddell since before the draft about everybody from Jiricek and Kent Johnson to Cole Sillinger and, as you surely know by now, Patrik Laine.

Remember, the Wild thought they had a deal done for Laine, but he wouldn’t waive his no-trade and was subsequently dealt to Montreal late in the summer.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I remember there was rumors they wanted him and rumors that he nixed a deal, but I guess I never made that connection. Makes sense though.