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

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koteka said:
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.
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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?!
 
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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!
 
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.
 
CanadienShark said:
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!
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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.
 
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."
 
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Did we know this? From Russo's article today:


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.
 
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.
 

Worse yet, he often looks lazy on the ice, something that is clearly driving head coach Martin St. Louis up the wall. MSL has demoted him to the third line alongside Armia and Jake Evans and on Sunday against Anaheim, the coach benched him in the third period. Most think the straw that broke the coach’s back was the second Ducks goal, when Laine completely stopped skating when he entered the Canadiens zone, standing watch as Frank Vatrano scored. On Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings, Laine was on the ice less than any other forward, playing just over 11 minutes.
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spintheblackcircle said:

Worse yet, he often looks lazy on the ice, something that is clearly driving head coach Martin St. Louis up the wall. MSL has demoted him to the third line alongside Armia and Jake Evans and on Sunday against Anaheim, the coach benched him in the third period. Most think the straw that broke the coach’s back was the second Ducks goal, when Laine completely stopped skating when he entered the Canadiens zone, standing watch as Frank Vatrano scored. On Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings, Laine was on the ice less than any other forward, playing just over 11 minutes.
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It's an interesting, although predictable turn of events. Flashback to about 6-7 weeks ago, Laine was coming off 8-2-10 in 9 games. Montreal could not believe that they had stolen Laine from us for nothing in that trade - thanking us for giving him away, even. But there has been a pretty dramatic recent shift in production from him and tone from the fanbase and media. The tipping point appears to have been around his game in Columbus, and honestly, I don't think that's a coincidence. He has just 4-5-9 in 17 games (out of Montreal's last 21 games), with no points in 6. Now there seems to be some panic settling in and serious concerns about the value he provides compared to his cap hit.

Also from that article:

"Former NHL coach Bob Hartley said on BPM Sports this week that if you put Laine on waivers no team would pick him up and I think he’s right. It’s not even the money, though a cap hit of $8.7 million is pretty steep. It’s just that if he is playing like this, he unbalances the entire forward group. Dach and Alex Newhook seemed to come to life when Laine was dropped from their line and he’s not a good fit on a defensive checking line, which is where he’s been housed these last few days."
 
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I see the Laine honeymoon period is over. I have a feeling this may be a nothing trade in a few years.

I’m still annoyed we had to trade the second
 
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spintheblackcircle said:

Worse yet, he often looks lazy on the ice, something that is clearly driving head coach Martin St. Louis up the wall. MSL has demoted him to the third line alongside Armia and Jake Evans and on Sunday against Anaheim, the coach benched him in the third period. Most think the straw that broke the coach’s back was the second Ducks goal, when Laine completely stopped skating when he entered the Canadiens zone, standing watch as Frank Vatrano scored. On Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings, Laine was on the ice less than any other forward, playing just over 11 minutes.
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I don't know why we should care anymore. He's not on our team and is no longer our problem. I hope he is happy and in a better mental state but I am happy he is not excelling on the ice. I don't need Laine helping the Habs beat us out for a playoff spot.
 
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Doggy said:
I don't know why we should care anymore. He's not on our team and is no longer our problem. I hope he is happy and in a better mental state but I am happy he is not excelling on the ice. I don't need Laine helping the Habs beat us out for a playoff spot.
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I think you answered yourself
 
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