Confirmed with Link: Patrik Laine and 2026 2nd round pick acquired from the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jordan Harris

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

Hockey is a team sport. Having Laine, and Dach back, reinflates our second line and forces other teams to spread their defensive specialists over the top two lines, while also improving our PP. Could benefit Caufield and Suzuki even if they mostly don't play with Laine. Not to mention contributing to team size.

Plus, with the impending arrival of Demidov, and later Hage or Beck, that maps to a top-9 that is difficult to match up against. That is before even adding players with a heavy game like Xhekaj and Tuch.

A lot more 1-goal games will start going our way.

 

[Karma Police]

I saw a comment on reddit that made me laugh so hard and got me pretty f***ing excited :

This is the happiest I've been since we drafted Demidov, I haven't been this happy in weeks!!

 

[Habs10Habs]

May have to get my wife to up my allowance. Now I have to buy a Laine and a Demidov jersey

 

[ReHabs]

I'll say this.

Watching Hughes actually do things with the cap while that f***ing idiot Bergevin just held it for no reason missing out in opportunities like getting Bickell and Teravainen for free, or getting a 1st that turned into Jarvis for Marleau just sucks. Granted that Leafs one might not have worked because of rivals and whatnot, but yeah.

Dude used his cap space to get Armia and a 4th and that was pretty much it.

Yes.

It’s remarkable how bad most GMs are and how much worse than them Bergevin was.

Kent looks like a revelation in comparison… and he hasn’t “mortgaged the future” either.

Kent utilized his cap space — effectively selling it to get that 2nd round pick back.

What a tremendous trade. Blows anything Bergevin did out of the water.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

I don't.

Loathe is a much more adequate word to describe my feelings towards him.

Yeah I'll never forgive him for wasting Carey Prices prime

 

[Whitesnake]

That's the other thing tho

The mental issues weren't from the 'city'
They were from the poor locker rooms

We're fostering something a bit different these days
Building a young fun offensive team

And God willing, it's hopefully the environment that gets him back on that 44 goal track baby

I was against it at first but.. I didn't ACTUALLY think we'd be trying to get him lol, I was preparing myself to not get excited

But now seeing the cost too is just,
Wow.

Such a worth the gamble experiment after all

Exactly. First, with ALL we know about his mental health issues and how Habs fans can't wait for some offense, you can bet that Laine will get all the support he can receive. It should be insane. Sure....at one point...he will need to get it going. So hopefully, he starts early. Guy will use the PP to get it going if he can't 5 on 5.

But fans are ready to be 100% behind him.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

Good. Have to start stockpiling picks for 26 now.

 

[BLONG7]

I don't.

Loathe is a much more adequate word to describe my feelings towards him.

I still have PTSD from that clown Bergevin....

 

[HomaridII]

Too much was expected elsewhere. He looks like a monster and puts points up, but he’ll never be a play driver. He’ll never be a flashy game-breaker. He needs to play a complementary role scoring goals. That’s who he is. And that’s the role I believe we expect of him.

That's the thing, we already have an established core of good young players. He doesn't need to come here to save the franchise. He isn't expected to be part of the leadership core, or be the face of the team. Heck, moving forward, he isn't even expected to be GOD, we already have a DemiGOD!

Plus, Montreal LOVES talent, did people forget how we treated Kovalev?

 

[Tyson]

Well this off-season got interesting in a hurry.

 

[schwang26]

Too much was expected elsewhere. He looks like a monster and puts points up, but he’ll never be a play driver. He’ll never be that flashy game-breaker. He needs to play a complementary role scoring goals. That’s who he is. And that’s the role I believe we expect of him.

Check out the rds YouTube video. You’ll change your mind quickly.

 

[Goldthorpe]

I just want to point out that Laine - Dach - Slaf is a line that could realistically happen.

 

[Captain Mountain]

What a trade... love it. This could fail but this could set sail too!

So... how about a second line of :

Laine (6'5") Dach (6'4") Slafkovsky (6'4")

I'm drooling...


EDIT: WAIT! WE get the 2nd too?? Did I read that wrong? Is it really Laine + 2nd for Harris??

Hopefully they actually play most of the season.

And yes, Montreal's started building their 2026 Draft arsenal.

 

[Redux91]

Wait, he had issues with the Jackets locker room as well ?

Regardless, I'm good with this.

Just involved with poorly run teams so far

If he had joined our team with Bergevin at the helm
He'd be f***ed.

It's different now

 

[Habs10Habs]

Damn my finger hurts from hitting so many "Like" buttons lol

Who knew Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) was on Aug 19th lol

 

[BenchBrawl]

Laine has one of the greatest shots, the gamble is definitely worth it.

With Demidov, Laine, Slafkovsky, Suzuki, Dach, Caufield and Newhook, along with Roy, Beck, Hage, we have the foundation for a dominating Top 9 upfront in 3-5 years.

Laine might fizzle out ofc but the upside we have is crazy. Adding Demidov + Laine + Hage in a single off-season was a great advance towards what we want to accomplish.

 

[Tyson]

#92 for Laine?

 

[Andy]

I’m still not convinced the Habs are done.

I feel like they are going to trade for a vet on D.

 

[yianik]

Just involved with poorly run teams so far

If he had joined our team with Bergevin at the helm
He'd be f***ed.

It's different now

Jesus, Laine and Therrien ? Oh frig, lol.

 

[SOLR]

I am without speech

I have no speech

 

[V13]

He only has 2 years left so the risk is quite limited. I see this as a low risk high reward move. Laine is only 26 and if he can find his game back into a 30-40g - ppg guy then this is a short term steal.

That said I don't see this as having a middle ground. It's either gonna be a hit or a miss.

 

[Rozz]

Ok this is f***ing awesome!

1. something finally happened!!!

2. we got Patrik Laine!

3. we also got a 2nd round pick and only gave up Harris!

Man, it feels so f***ing great to have a competent, and bad ass BOSS of a Gm!

 

[windycity]

BargainBin would have traded Caufield and a 2nd for Laine. This deal is almost Sam Pollackesque. Great deal even if it doesn't work out

 

[Le Barron de HF]

This has the making of Kessel in PIT (dude who now becomes the 4th best forward instead of go to guy) or Drouin 2.0. But zero risk at that price.

 

[Gally11]

This is a bananas trade! Engels in shambles right now, queue up the Sick podcast

Analysts and fans are not used to this management team yet lol