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

[CBJx614]

Unreal.

I truly thought we would retain and get some more back (or not have to send assets to move him)before we would trade him as a cap dump. Laine must've been extremely clear he didn't want to start the season here and ownership must've been pretty clear about not retaining.

Well...at least we have a ton of space and don't have to RELY on JMFJ all season next year...

 

[Pebble live]

Yikes... I don't like Laine much as a player/playing style but WTF is Columbus doing?

Short of doing the player a massive favor, they didn't need the cap space to sell a 2nd. Retain half and get a small asset if you really want him out.

I think they see it as addition by subtraction. He's asked to be traded multiple times on multiple teams and his attitude was questioned on previous teams. He was young and that's part of maturing as a player sometimes. I think he's at a really nice age now and he's going to return to his old form and be an absolute monster.

I like this trade for the Habs. As a leafs fan I'm looking forward to Habs V Leafs this season.

 

[innitfam]

Wow great job by Montreal here. It's not like Laine's contract is 5 years. It's just 2.

 

[pth2]

We'll know if Montreal wins their bet based on Laine's next contract. If he extends, at a discount, in Montreal, it was worthwhile. If he leaves as a UFA, then it was a worthy gamble but it will have failed.

I just can't see him extending at his current salary.

Columbus chose to cut bait, taking a middling return to avoid an ongoing drama.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Questions:

* How is Laine's French?
* Who is the ISP in Montreal?
* Is Suzuki a kind and understanding soul?
* Who is going to set-up Laine for one-timers?
* Where is the best smoked meat?

 

[HabsQC]

Absolutely no downside for the Habs. I like that added 2nd, gives tools for our beautiful GM to make more magic.

Laine for a 1st+ on 26 trade deadline will become a thing really soon.

 

[Baksfamous112]

The downside of this trade for Habs is.

Laine, Anderson, and Gallagher combining for 20.7M

ouchies

Doesn’t affect the cap structure at all. Dvorak, Armia and Savard are off the book at the end of the year for a combined 10M+ and Allen & Petry rentention are done as well for another 3.5M and we still carry Price’s 10.5M LTIR

Hutson is up in two years and both Reinbacher and Demidov are 3+ years out.

It only affect our ability to acquire a top end talent in the next two draft

 

[Cypher]

Let's just hope Laine can mentally stand to play in MTL and in front of their fan base. Can't hide like he did in CBJ.

 

[thebestnic]

Questions:

* How is Laine's French?
* Who is the ISP in Montreal?
* Is Suzuki a kind and understanding soul?
* Who is going to set-up Laine for one-timers?
* Where is the best smoked meat?

-Non
-Videotron and Bell both suck
-Yes
-Slaf and Suzuki
-Schwartz's

 

[frederixx]

Makes a lot of sense for Montreal. They didn't have a spot for Harris and they have extra cap space for the next 2 years.

So they gain an extra 2nd (even though they have like 20+ picks in the next 2 years) and they gamble on Laine staying healty. Worst case, they send him ashore.

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Laine - Dach - Demidov
Newhook - Hage - Roy

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Columbus did well here.

 

[HabsQC]

We'll know if Montreal wins their bet based on Laine's next contract. If he extends, at a discount, in Montreal, it was worthwhile. If he leaves as a UFA, then it was a worthy gamble but it will have failed.

I just can't see him extending at his current salary.

Columbus chose to cut bait, taking a middling return to avoid an ongoing drama.

A trade for a good return is also possible and could be a win

 

[Buttonwood]

Assuming CBJ 2nd is worth about 40th overall, that's about worth about $3.4M in cap space according to puckpedia. That would mean the deal is close to Harris for a $7M x 2 Laine. Interesting gamble

 

[sansabri]

can Laine still go

 

[HuGo Sham]

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.

nope. I believe he actually just started a foundation with his fiancee for people in distress and crisis - where they can reach out and find support

 

[Runner77]

Jordan harris FOR laine and a 2nd (2026)

Kent Hughes cooking yet again!

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

We'll know if Montreal wins their bet based on Laine's next contract. If he extends, at a discount, in Montreal, it was worthwhile. If he leaves as a UFA, then it was a worthy gamble but it will have failed.

I just can't see him extending at his current salary.

Columbus chose to cut bait, taking a middling return to avoid an ongoing drama.

I think this is the Monahan play and Montreal has no interest in extending him. In fact I think he's not a Hab next season. This is gonna be all about re-building his value for a trade next offseason.

Basically weaponizing cap space and deep pockets.

 

[shaner8989]

Mtl now over the cap and have a bottom 5 team.

I do like to move for them though. Could be a free asset. It’s the cap hit that’s awful.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

can Laine still go

Some imagine him to be a close to PPG player 50% of the time.

 

[Garo]

Questions:

* How is Laine's French?

C'tun Québécois pure Laine.

Mtl now over the cap and have a bottom 5 team.

I do like to move for them though. Could be a free asset. It’s the cap hit that’s awful.

There's no reason to worry about the cap hit, though.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Let's just hope Laine can mentally stand to play in MTL and in front of their fan base. Can't hide like he did in CBJ.

Montreal being mid-rebuild and getting paid to acquire him will help a lot.

One of the biggest reasons Drouin got as much heat as he did (beyond being French Canadian) was that he was bizarrely billed as a 1C and the player he was traded for (Sergachev) was immediately a better NHLer.

Montreal's getting a 2nd and are giving up a D that it seems like management wasn't going to give a realistic shot at a full time role.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Leafs and Wings fans throwing shades as if their team core has accomplished anything

I haven't read the entire thing, but it's one Detroit fan that I've seen and I've seen a few leaf fans say they like the deal.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Hughes absolutly spanked Colombus in that deal

 

[CanadienShark]

I've never seen people so happy with a cap dump before.

I'm a Laine fan and always have been. Your bias is showing. This "cap dump" ought to be a very good value, no risk, high reward "risk" for us.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

nope. I believe he actually just started a foundation with his fiancee for people in distress and crisis - where they can reach out and find support

What are you saying nope to? Why did he take a mental health leave and why would he not have similar problems in Montreal? Is any of that known?