Marc Dumont
It’s no secret the Montreal Canadiens could stand to add more offensive firepower to the lineup, and it just so happens that forward Patrik Laine is being shopped by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
For the most part, the organization is banking that individual growth will lead to team success, a logic approach given the Habs have one of the youngest lineups in the NHL. But we also know the Canadiens have attempted to add a marquee player recently, as they were one of the teams in the hunt for free agent Jonathan Marchessault before he decided to sign a five-year contract with the Nashville Predators.
Kent Hughes wisely folded his cards when the 33-year-old free agent was given a five-year deal. The Canadiens are in the midst of a rebuild, and the priority is securing ample ice time for the youth movement.
Laine, on the other hand, is only 26-years old, which means he’s a much better fit for the Stanley Cup window the team is hoping to open in the next five seasons.
Montreal Canadiens And Patrik Laine
Before we get into the analysis, we have to clear a few things up. First off, I can already hear the echos of a thousand fans suggesting Laine is not a worthy reclamation project. And there’s some merit to the argument, especially when we consider Laine has two years left on a contract that carries an inflated $8.7 million salary cap hit. But we also have to consider opportunities to add a 40-goal scorer to the lineup are few and far between.
There’s also the matter of his recent admission to the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Laine was cleared to leave the program on Friday, which is nothing but great news when it comes to his health, but it also means he has not featured in an NHL game since 2023. Any trade to acquire Laine must come with the acknowledgement that it will take him a little time to get back up to speed.
If we take his cap hit out of the equation (for now) and focus on his on-ice contributions, it’s clear that the rumours of Laine’s demise have been greatly exaggerated, seeing as his prorated, 82-game scoring pace in the last three years has hovered around 30 goals. The Canadiens are looking for a permanent winger with above-average offensive instincts to fill a hole in the top six, and Laine certainly fits the bill.
The concerns regarding his commitment to the game aren’t overly concerning, though I am sure they will be mentioned ad nauseam in the next few weeks. A strong leadership group would ensure he understands he’s a part of the team, while also reminding him that he does not have to single-handedly drag the team to a respectable level.
Of course, the Canadiens would have to be careful if they choose to engage in a serious trade discussion with the Blue Jackets. The good news is that the price tag is likely to be reasonable seeing as both Laine and Columbus are ready to part ways. The bad news is that Laine’s underlying numbers have plummeted alongside his scoring pace, which indicates his downtick in production was not an outlier, but rather, a symptom of his fading value.
Finally, his contract is another sticking point, but it’s not a dire situation per se. Yes, $8.7 million per season is a lot for a player who seems to be on the decline, but there is a saving grace in place, as it expires in 2025-26.
In other words, if the Canadiens do end up trading for Patrik Laine they’d have two years to judge whether he has what it takes to become an important offensive cog in the rebuild wheel before they’d have to consider a contract extension.
