I've had several comments in here and, to be clear, they are a bit tongue in cheek because I literally said many of the same things when Laine was with Columbus because I so badly wanted him to work out or get to a point of moving him for value. In my opinion, there is a pattern with Laine and we, as fans, see where he was drafted and know what he is truly (was?) capable of so we hope and try to will it to happen. What I'm reading in this thread is solely around how Laine will not impact the Cap because it's going up and he has just one year left. What I think Columbus has learned is that there is more than the dollar/Cap to be considered as you rebuild.
Laine made it very clear he did not want to be part of the future in Columbus. That meant he HAD to go. At this point, I get it, he hasn't taken that position in Montreal (not to my knowledge anyway). So you all are right, he doesn't NEED to be moved. The question is, does he NEED to STAY? What else is he impacting that maybe isn't Cap related? That's where I think the biggest step forward has come for Columbus. Again, not apples to apples as they changed the coach and GM as well, but they are getting more overall value out of players like JVR and Jack Johnson than they would have from Laine. Laine wants to be a star. Wants the puck. He's making the same mistakes trying to make the team better (in his eyes) that he did in Columbus and even Winnipeg.
Long way of saying, I think he's a problem for your rebuild and it isn't because of his impact to the Cap. I think it's an impact to the room, team structure and coaches system. I wish no ill will, but I don't think the Habs should be thought to be so far behind Columbus in a rebuild but that's what I keep reading. Laine is a problem for you. I think he is for any young team trying to move forward.
