Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine has requested a trade, with one proposal suggesting he could be sent to the Montreal Canadiens. Laine, who was cleared to return from the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program on July 26, saw trade speculation intensify afterward. PuckPedia’s new PuckGM tool allowed users to craft trade scenarios, leading one user to propose a multi-player exchange between the two teams.
In this trade, the Canadiens would receive Patrik Laine, while the Blue Jackets would get Mike Matheson and Josh Anderson. Laine is in the final two years of a four-year, $34.8 million contract he signed with Columbus in 2022. His struggles with consistency and health issues have driven his trade request.
Joining Montreal would offer Laine another chance to be a key goal-scorer. With Montreal’s rebuild nearing completion, adding Laine could improve their playoff prospects for the 2024-25 NHL season.
For Columbus, acquiring Josh Anderson, who has three years remaining on his contract, would help replace Laine. Anderson, who also could benefit from a change of environment, had a challenging season with the Canadiens, registering only 9 goals and 11 assists in 78 games. He previously began his NHL career with the Blue Jackets, where he enjoyed significant success.
Mike Matheson, a solid defenseman with two years left on his contract, could play on either the top or second pairing for Columbus. If the Blue Jackets are out of playoff contention, Matheson could potentially be traded for prospects or draft picks at the deadline.
Despite Laine’s trade request, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has emphasized that they will not trade him without a suitable return. Waddell stated on June 20 that the team is seeking a beneficial trade and is open to all possibilities.
Laine was selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Draft.
The Canadiens, focusing on long-term development, had a quiet offseason with no major free-agent signings. However, they secured several young players, including Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Justin Barron, with multi-year contracts. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes emphasized that their strategy is to build for the future rather than seeking immediate gains.
Montreal will start the 2024-25 NHL season at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 9.
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