Confirmed Trade: [MTL/CBJ] Patrik Laine, '26 2nd for Jordan Harris

[Wats]

Feel like the Ceci deal set the frame work to this somehow. Sharks perhaps didn't want that big of a contract?

 

[Go Wings]

It’s better than paying a 2nd to get rid of a player which had positive value. He’s got 2 more years and it won’t affect our cap structure.

Two wrongs don't make a right

 

[FrozenJagrt]

All they had to give up to get the best goal scorer since Lemieux was Harris!?

 

[Viqsi]

You know.

Columbus fans told me Rakell + a 2nd was bad value for Laine.

Well Columbus Rakell and a 2nd or lose a 2nd and get Harris.

Instead they got a bottom pairing Defensemen cost controlled though. Maybe they can flip him at the deadline to a team for a 3rd?

Lose a 2nd and get Harris would be preferred, because Rakell is cap and term coming back.

Of all the undesired scenarios that were proposed that we were saying "no", to, this is arguably the most constructive one. Survivable since most of the considerations that ruled Harris out went away shortly after Waddell came in and cleaned house. Still not great for us tho.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Big winning for Montreal.

Even if Laine does not play. Free 2nd.

 

[Theodore450]

Wish we had convinced them to take Barron over Harris

 

[dgibb10]

Good move for MTL.

Taking advantage of a big market.

The other tanking teams do not have the revenue to eat 16+ million dollars in salary

 

[Viqsi]

Hopefully this works out like the Monahan deal for MTL.

I strongly suspect it will.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Does Montreal plan on competing ever? They have some bad contracts and are collecting more.

Maybe when their core is approaching 30 they will start?

armia, savard and Dvorak are off the books in a year..C Price to LTIR..

but please continue

 

[Jared Dunn]

Because they're retaining on Wennberg and Boqvist which means they have 1 retain slot left which they're holding for Elvis.

Also they're paying Mike Babcock, Brad Larsson and Pascal Vincent. Ownership may have told Waddell no more dead money for a while.

Both of those are buyouts and don't impact the retention slots

 

[Satan]

Waddell got taken to the cleaners

 

[Captain Mountain]

Seems that way. I don't think it was the right call, but whatever. Also really don't like the return. My impression of Waddell so far is that he's been fine on signings but his trades have been poor. Maybe he'll prove me wrong tho.

He's gotten tagged on HFBoards because he plays a kind of bland game and he was a Hab who constantly got thrown into trade proposals, but Harris is young, plays a smart/responsible game and been very effective as a 3rd pair D in Montreal. If Columbus needs a LD, then he's a pretty good fit on the 3rd pair with potential to be more.

He is also by all reports an A+ human being who will likely fit into any locker room. I'm going to miss him, even if I understand why Montreal's betting on Guhle, Hutson and Xhekaj at LD over him.

 

[yianik]

I thought if Jackets retained half he could get 2 2nds or equivalent. So the deal makes sense to me.

For the Jackets I don't see them doing better than this because of the salary. For the Habs it's a great lottery ticket. If the guy doesn't bounce back it doesn't hurt us from putting our team together. If Laine gets it together then at worst in 2 years at the TDL we get a 1st and a decent prospect, or he signs an extension with us.

 

[Essenege]

The downside of this trade for Habs is.

Laine, Anderson, and Gallagher combining for 20.7M

ouchies

crazy isn’t it?

Although all this cap is coming up in the next 3 years so is mostly outside the targeted contention window.

Hughes not going for the missing top 6 player but a patch to help the young core push for playoffs…he’s throwing guys like Suzuki and Caufield a bone.

 

[mediator]

Perfect player to play alongside Slafkovsky.

You're probably more familar with Slaf's playing style and strengths so tell me what makes them a good fit in your opinion?

 

[thebestnic]

Does Montreal plan on competing ever? They have some bad contracts and are collecting more.

Maybe when their core is approaching 30 they will start?

Also, not close to PPG with CBJ.

Still winning more playoffs rounds than the Leafs to be honest. The core is already signed or will be on ELC in the next 2 years, but thanks for your concerns.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Does Montreal plan on competing ever? They have some bad contracts and are collecting more.

Maybe when their core is approaching 30 they will start?

Also, not close to PPG with CBJ.

We've been rebuilding for 3 years , you're clearly salty we got a free player for peanuts and our fanbase is happy about it

You're probably more familar with Slaf's playing style and strengths so tell me what makes them a good fit in your opinion?

Slaf is probably the best cross ice passer on the team , suzuki is close but Slaf sends piss missiles all over the ice

 

[Viqsi]

Because they're retaining on Wennberg and Boqvist which means they have 1 retain slot left which they're holding for Elvis.

Also they're paying Mike Babcock, Brad Larsson and Pascal Vincent. Ownership may have told Waddell no more dead money for a while.

Neither of those are retention slots. Retention != buyout.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

I dont know if im more happy about getting Laine or getting rid of Harris

Big W for Hughes

 

[SteelCityCannon]

Big winning for Montreal.

Even if Laine does not play. Free 2nd.

17 million dollar second

But id take the risk if I was MTL honestly. I think he's fools gold at this point but who knows.

 

[SwordSlash666]

Some people have said that Montreal is a bad market for someone like him but I'm not so sure about that. Kovalev and Radulov are two examples of players with baggage that thrived here. We will see I guess but this looks like an incredible trade.

 

[notbias]

We've been rebuilding for 3 years , you're clearly salty we got a free player for peanuts and our fanbase is happy about it

I don't care what bottom feeders in the NHL are doing... I am just wondering when they will start to try to compete.

Suzuki is 25, assuming around 30 the Habs will start trying?

Some big contracts will be off the books then.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Lose a 2nd and get Harris would be preferred, because Rakell is cap and term coming back.

Of all the undesired scenarios that were proposed that we were saying "no", to, this is arguably most constructive one. Survivable since most of the considerations that ruled Harris out went away shortly after Waddell came in and cleaned house. Still not great for us tho.

I get that Rakell at 5 million for 4 years. Is cap on the books.

Was realistically the only player that would work to fit in the cap.

I'd just rather have 2 2nds over Harris.

Maybe Columbus uses the cap space well?

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Excuse me, but why could Laine not make it work in Columbus? What about his mental condition is a result of playing in and for Columbus?

This is a serious question. I’m not being sarcastic. Just trying to understand how and why he had them over a barrel like this.

This is the 8.7x 2 million dollar question imo and no one knows. Best hypothesis we've heard is he's been dealing with depression after his Dad passed away but it's based on absolutely nothing.

Edit: "Absolutely nothing" is probably an overstatement, but we don't know for sure what is going on.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

So Dvorak or Armia?

Armia put up career numbers, size and he's a beast for the cycle game.

Dvorak just hasn't worked out, so definitely him. He's great on draws, so he might get a chance as a winger on the Dach line to see if Dach still f***ing sucks at draws.

Harvey-Pinard, maybe even Pezzetta as the odd man out. Pezzetta had heart and throws checks, but he's pretty much a punching bag in the league.