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

[General Fanager]

I rather liked Harris. Columbus receives a serviceable defenseman who can play both sides. He's not a scrub by any means. Waddell did ok.

Laine's skillset is undeniable but I keep getting that PLD vibe. If he wants to be appreciated as a hockey player, there is no better place than Montreal. Just ask Alex Kovalev. He'd better get ready for it though.

Me too but this also solves one of the issues on defense. There was a log jam and Harris was likely traded anyways.....

 

[Lockin17]

• Laine-Dach-Newhook would be a nice line this year.
• Laine-Dach-Demidov next year

 

[Stringer Bell]

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.

No, I get that. But what does his dad passing have to do with Columbus?

 

[Michoulicious]

Montreal has now four 1st round picks, five 2nd round picks and five 3rd round picks in the next 3 drafts.

Holysh**.

 

[Viqsi]

No, I get that. But what does his dad passing have to do with Columbus?

It happened while he was here and there's a theory that playing here reminds him too much of that period. Otherwise nobody really knows.

 

[JaegerDice]

Hope it works out for him.

Not a fan of him as a player, I think he’s gotten more rope than most due to draft position. He’s not a particularly impactful player.

 

[Breakers]

No we won't. We received payment to take him in so i don't think anyone really expects anything out of him and if anything he gives us more assets if he can find his game again like Monahan.

The pressure would be different if we gave away Sergachev and a 2nd for him. It's all relative.

LOL
$8.7 million AAV and nobody has expectations for him?

Yeah Ok

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Good deal for Columbus. They got out from under his contract for basically a 3rd in value. Excellent work. Horrific for MTL.

Good one lmao

 

[614 CBJ]

it's a win for Montreal today

in 2 years they will be saying thank God that contract is up

 

[VeteranPresence]

Great work by Montreal to put their cap space to work and bring in a guy who has shown flashes of elite play while still fitting nicely into the average age of their core. Columbus was never going to get good value here, but some of the chest-thumping about that not being the case sure was entertaining.

 

[13to40]

Pretty much Laine for free and a 2nd for Harris

Good trade for both teams.

Montreal unclogs the jam on the backend.

Columbus gets rid of the Laine drama show and can concentrate on hockey.

Montreal gains a 2nd round pick: maybe can be used in a package for Askarov??

Columbus frees up a boatload of cap space and gains a serviceable youngish Dman.

 

[ijuka]

Laine didn't seem to have any value with his contract. That is, Harris for 2nd was probably fair, and so Laine was free.

Does that mean that Laine would have made 8.7mil for 2 years had he been a UFA? There's no way, right?

And if that's the case, then this has to be a loss for the Habs.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

I've said a few times this thread that this is a great gamble for Montreal. That said, it is funny how we've read how junk Laine is for months and now he's some sort of Jackpot.

I don't hate this for us at all. Didn't need to see more floating 30 games a year.

 

[Cnile]

I’m hoping he does well in Montreal.
Loved him as a Jet

 

[behemolari]

Great work by Montreal to put their cap space to work and bring in a guy who has shown flashes of elite play while still fitting nicely into the average age of their core. Columbus was never going to get good value here, but some of the chest-thumping about that not being the case sure was entertaining.

Montreal is now better than Toronto

and I leave it there

 

[Michoulicious]

I've said a few times this thread that this is a great gamble for Montreal. That said, it is funny how we've read how junk Laine is for months and now he's some sort of Jackpot.

I don't hate this for us at all. Didn't need to see more floating 30 games a year.

Most people pointed out Laine's contract was very detrimental to his value. Looks like it was the case.

Now let's see if Columbus really spends that money on players or just keeps it in the owner pockets.

 

[ReHabs]

it's a win for Montreal today

in 2 years they will be saying thank God that contract is up

There’s very little cap pressure on the Habs. All the important contracts have been signed. Carey Price expires in two years too.

Chill bro

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Not sure Mtl’s cap situation but if they can take on Laine’s salary without issue then it’s an alright trade for both teams. Laine is clearly a grossly overpaid player at this point with lots of games being missed as well. I guess this means that MTL is going for it a bit next season? If I was there GM I would have rode this season out without this trade and see where the team stands in their rebuild. I don’t think Laine is good enough to make them a “rebuild finished, let’s go for it” team, and I would have preferred staying the course and possibly getting a higher pick as Laine should help them somewhat, but not a ton

 

[CannonFire1]

the guy is ppg in CBJ and we got him for nothing what do you expect the reaction to be , zero risk for us even if Laine poops the bed its a nothing burger for us

It is well worth the gamble for Montreal. Low risk, potentially high reward.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Biggest surprise to me is Montreal having that much cap space halfway through August

 

[HuGort]

honestly, didn't think Harris was worth more than a 3rd so with Laine that's a huge win

Harris wouldn't been traded but Canadiens overstocked on D.

 

[ReHabs]

I've said a few times this thread that this is a great gamble for Montreal. That said, it is funny how we've read how junk Laine is for months and now he's some sort of Jackpot.

I don't hate this for us at all. Didn't need to see more floating 30 games a year.

For CBJ the big win is not retaining anything and getting a clean break. Paying a 2nd for Harris is an overpayment but in this package it’s evidentially market value.

For MTL the cap hit was undeniably onerous but ultimately not impactful/threatening enough to turn the Habs off from his potential upside.

Win win win

Biggest surprise to me is Montreal having that much cap space halfway through August

Hughes very wisely didn’t spend big on the UFA market. Some dog shit contracts were handed out and Hughes avoided it all together. It took confidence on his part, I have to tip my hat to him… I’m not typically a “management fan”

 

[First Line]

Biggest surprise to me is Montreal having that much cap space halfway through August

Lots of ELC still, Slaf and Guhle contract start next year

 

[chaser17]

Kinda funny how the CBJ narrative flipped the past few days. Feels like it basically went from "We support you Patrik and want to help you get better" to GTFO in the last week lol.

 

[kyne]

Montreal has now four 1st round picks, five 2nd round picks and five 3rd round picks in the next 3 drafts.

Holysh**.

It's been decades since Montreal has been in this type of situation. Competence makes a difference.