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

[CBJx614]

People crap on Jordan Harris because Habs fans included him in every trade. But he's a reliable puckmoving dman that improved rapidly over 2 years. Habs have a plethora of talent on the backend and have to make room. He will be good.

But, despite all the negative perceptions about Harris on these trade boards, he's more than a throw in. Has a legit chance at becoming a quality top 4 dman. Not flashy, but solid all around, hard working, smart, the kind of player who will keep improving well into his late 20's/early 30's if he stays healthy.

Very intelligent player. Smooth skater. But he gets overpowered sometimes and can have difficulty breaking the cycle against heavier competition. He's not flashy, but makes the smart play. He's not going to rim it every time.

Harris a reliable defenseman who should have a long career though. He was part of a logjam, but he never would have been traded if not for having so many left handed defensemen. Don't be surprised if he develops into an excellent top 4 guy.

I think he'll be a good fit in CBJ s defensive core, but most importantly it's creating some real competition on D for everyone and it's not leaving a spot to be handed to anyone, including guys like Jiricek and Mateychuk. If they want to make the team this season under a new head coach and FO they are going to have to truly earn it. Even guys like Provorov are going to have to earn their minutes if they start feeling pressured by the kids on his heels

But still behind Werenski and Mateychuk so a 3rd pairing placeholder.

I don't think Mateychuk is a lock to make it this season. If he makes it, cool. But let him overseason in Cleveland and run the team as a #1 for 6+ months first.

My question is why is CBJ treating this like a cap dump, when they had cap space and aren't competing immediately. Probably would not have to haven given up a 2nd if trading at the deadline.

Not all the details are out but essentially Laine made it clear he wanted out and instead of it dragging through the season and being something hanging over the team Waddell just decided to punt and accept the loss. New management probably has a blank slate with ownership, they clearly didn't want to retain so it makes me believe they are allowing him to punt here and start fresh.

Because they are an organization that knows they need to reset the internal culture if they want to succeed... One rich in young elite talent. Step one is buy-in, hard to do with an 8.7M core player publicly asking out...

After last year's pre-season debacle and disappointing season, it's understandable that the new GM wants to give his new HC as much of a clean slate as possible...

It's likely a lottery season anyways, so saving the owner 16-18M$ (not sure on timing of this year's 2M signing bonus) in the process also helps I'm sure.

I bet the Jackets will be aggressive in UFA/vet trade market next summer, this move paves the way for that

Apparently multiple teams have contacted Waddell after the trade looking for cap relief.

 

[CanadienShark]

I mean why don’t you tell me what move he has made that has been great? I guarantee you if there was a GM poll he’d be in the 28-32 range.

The Karlsson deal, the Meier deal, the Burns deal is the only iffy one on value. He's opened up a ton of flexibility with the team and rebuilt our prospect pool to become one of the best in the league.

 

[jonlin]

I hope Montreal will try

Laine - Suzuki - Slafkovsky

It gives vibes of

Laine - Sheifele - Wheeler

from years back and could do serious damage if starts to work.

 

[heretik27]

This has to be one of the most lopsided dumbass trades I've seen since the Erat for Forsberg trade. They dumped a guy who was PPG for them for two of the last three seasons minus injury and ADDED a second round pick? Is Jordan Harris even projected to be an NHL defenseman/play 100 games?

 

[Just Linda]

Harris is going to slot in as the 3rd pairing LHD placeholder until Mateychuk is NHL ready so for about a year and just a different logjam.

Having both Mateychuk and Harris on your d isn't recipe for success. I think Harris will be expendable once Mateychuk is NHL ready.

Also, I think people will be disappointed at the amount of time Mateychuk will take to be a solid NHLer. He's a really good prospect but he's also pretty raw in some parts of his game.

Funny enough, they are kinda similar players outside of the skill gap.

 

[jonlin]

Laine to NHL.com:

"I`m super excited to go back to Canada. I really wanted to go to Montreal. I know the city, how much they care about the team and how passionate the fans are. I don't want to come back as a 30-goal scorer. I want to come back as a 40- to 50-[goal scorer]. I've done that previously and it's not by accident"

Sounds pretty excited to me?Laine ‘super excited’ for new opportunity in Montreal | Montréal Canadiens

 

[pth2]

This has to be one of the most lopsided dumbass trades I've seen since the Erat for Forsberg trade. They dumped a guy who was PPG for them for two of the last three seasons minus injury and ADDED a second round pick? Is Jordan Harris even projected to be an NHL defenseman/play 100 games?

Harris might have a long carreer, he'll never be a cornerstone piece in any specific role, but he could play 600 games and I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[CanadienShark]

This has to be one of the most lopsided dumbass trades I've seen since the Erat for Forsberg trade. They dumped a guy who was PPG for them for two of the last three seasons minus injury and ADDED a second round pick? Is Jordan Harris even projected to be an NHL defenseman/play 100 games?

Yes. If everything goes perfectly, Harris could top out as a solid top 4 LHD. He's good at a lot of things, but great at nothing. He's a good person and will be good for the locker room. Worst case, they got a relatively vanilla bottom pairing d-man.

 

[squashmaple]

This has to be one of the most lopsided dumbass trades I've seen since the Erat for Forsberg trade. They dumped a guy who was PPG for them for two of the last three seasons minus injury and ADDED a second round pick? Is Jordan Harris even projected to be an NHL defenseman/play 100 games?

lol we’ve repeatedly been told the past six months that Laine is worthless, lazy, useless, addicted to everything under the sun from video games to coke to porn, less than one dimensional, coasting on one good season six years ago and that we’d be lucky not to move him with a first half-retained. And now magically he gets traded with no retention with a pick that is not a first and for a legit roster player in return and suddenly the Jackets have been absolutely fleeced for an irreplaceable superstar? So which is it, hf?

 

[HabsQC]

Thanks Waddell we forgive you for that offer sheet thing !

 

[centipede2233]

I think it’s important Montreal coach is a former star nhler, someone laine can respect and look to for advice.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Here is an article on Laine.

From his history, I'm not sold on Laine being better top 6 solution the someone like Mercer, but he's certainly capable of being one. There is an equal chance of him fizzling out as becoming a monster. If he sees himself as the "older brother of his team", a core of Demidov, Dach, Suzuki, CC, Slaf and Newhook, well, his potential contribution is deadly. He's a legit 50 goal player that is in his prime. And he's got lots of talent around him that will help him get there.

Or he's gone in two years...

Canadiens' Laine says he's been skating following off-season shoulder procedure

The newest member of the Montreal Canadiens is feeling ready both mentally and physically for the upcoming season. But during his first media availability since the trade, Laine told reporters that he's been cleared to skate after having an operation and his shot is feeling as powerful as ever

www.sportsnet.ca

He’s never scored 50 goals

 

[Maffew]

This has to be one of the most lopsided dumbass trades I've seen since the Erat for Forsberg trade. They dumped a guy who was PPG for them for two of the last three seasons minus injury and ADDED a second round pick? Is Jordan Harris even projected to be an NHL defenseman/play 100 games?

I mean, he's played 131 games and has 32 points so far in a little over two seasons which took all of 4 seconds to Google.

 

[JianYang]

I have to fall in the Great job by Waddell category…

This isn’t a slumping player anymore. He took no salary back, for a guy averaging 14 goals over the last 4 years, making $8.7 million for another 2 years…. And he got a serviceable player in return, who should settle into being a nice 5/6 with more experience and maturity.

Montreal is making a pretty large wager, Laine will return to Winnipeg form, and be able to deal with all the outside noise of playing in Montreal. If he doesn’t though, it’s not the end of the world. They’d likely just buy him out next summer.

One thing’s for sure. Montreal’s media and fans, won’t put up with a player making $625,000 per goal…. So getting off to a quick start is gonna be important for Laine.

The wager isn't large. He's got two years left. I am skeptical of Laine for multiple reasons, but at the price they paid, I'm far more comforted.

My worry was that someone would get suckered in and pay assets based on his "Brand name"

 

[VT]

lol we’ve repeatedly been told the past six months that Laine is worthless, lazy, useless, addicted to everything under the sun from video games to coke to porn, less than one dimensional, coasting on one good season six years ago and that we’d be lucky not to move him with a first half-retained. And now magically he gets traded with no retention with a pick that is not a first and for a legit roster player in return and suddenly the Jackets have been absolutely fleeced for an irreplaceable superstar? So which is it, hf?

That's right. But don't forget that he was in PAP because of mental problems, often injured (second thing like) and wanted to leave because of problems in the in locker room (btw, they didn't have to be related to the players) so Waddell couldn't increase his price. And GMs know it well.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Imagine posting this as a proposal yesterday? You would have been banned lol

 

[HabsAddict]

He’s never scored 50 goals

I'll settle for his previous 44....

 

[Guess]

Let's not forget, Laine's father is a Habs scout. (Inside Habs Draft 2023). That might be beneficial for him? #GoHabsGo

not sure if anyone responded to this, but his dad has passed, the Habs scout you are referring to is Hannu Laine, two completely different people.

 

[pth2]

Imagine posting this as a proposal yesterday? You would have been banned lol

Only after being tarred and feathered.

 

[pth2]

I'll settle for his previous 44....

If he's a 25-30 goal scorer, 2nd PP unit winger, who is tolerable defensively, he'll be worth extending at a lower salary.

I'm hoping for a slower but smarter Gurianov.

 

[jonlin]

If he's a 25-30 goal scorer, 2nd PP unit winger, who is tolerable defensively, he'll be worth extending at a lower salary.

I'm hoping for a slower but smarter Gurianov.

Laine ‘super excited’ for new opportunity in Montreal | Montréal Canadiens

Laine himself wouldnt be pleased with 30g. He seem to be aiming for 40+

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Well worth the risk for Montreal. Laine might just miss a ton of games and be a non factor, but they gave up nothing except cap space. This also means Laine had zero trade value.

 

[CanadienShark]

Take your laugh emoji's and shove em

View attachment 901951

Dark mode, dude! My eyes burn just looking at that!

 

[pekka55]

BJ's absolutely FLEECED holy!!

Turning gold into turdnuggets over there in C'lumbus.

Well, what are they going to do? Everyone knows Laine wanted out of there and had a list of teams he won't go to. He had negative value and Montreal used that to their advantage. If that was the best offer, then they had to take it.

 

[CBJx614]

Laine ‘super excited’ for new opportunity in Montreal | Montréal Canadiens

Laine himself wouldnt be pleased with 30g. He seem to be aiming for 40+

His ability has never in doubt. He's got to be on the ice enough to score 40+

That's essentially what it comes down to, if Laine stays healthy, Montreal gets a helluva deal.

But Laine has played in 174/328 games over the last 4 years.