“Masterful” lol…..let’s see of he can show up and play first….
I mean they bought an asset with cap space/money.
First, Harris fits a need for the Blue Jackets to improve their bottom-pair. But value-wise is he more valuable than Kovacevic who went for a 4th? Propably not much.
Habs are going to be really bad next season, and likely the season after, too. With this trade they get what is likely a high 2nd rounder to take on Laine. He has a long way to get back to being an elite player but where is the downside for the Habs in this deal? At worst they get a flier on a top-6 player. Propably a better lottery ticket to have on your 2nd line than Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher or Joel Armia? I find it really hard to believe Habs aren't a better team with Laine on it rather than having one of the aforementioned 3 in their top-6. Even if he doesn't figure it out.
I don't see the downside here... perhaps Laine just can't stay healthy or doesn't figure it out. You still picked up nearly a free 2nd rounder, and it's not like cap space is any kind of issue for the Habs. If he figures it out, you either get a prime-aged star player for free or a prime TDL asset for the 2026 TDL.
Seems like a worthy gamble to me.