Canadiens Face Uphill Battle in Trying to Move Patrik Laine - But a Deadline Deal Still Makes Sense
The Montreal Canadiens are in a tricky spot with Patrik Laine. Moving a player with his cap hit and recent injury history is never easy - and in Laine’s case, it’s going to take some creativity to make it happen.
Laine carries an $8.7 million cap hit, and that’s a big number for a player who’s only suited up for five games this season. He’s been sidelined for most of the year following surgery, though he’s been skating with the Canadiens and appears close to returning. Still, with the trade deadline looming and teams looking to fine-tune their rosters, Montreal knows they’ll likely have to sweeten the pot to get a deal done.
That could mean retaining salary - potentially up to 50% - or attaching a valuable asset alongside Laine to make the deal more palatable for a contender. Or both.
From a timing standpoint, this kind of move makes more sense the closer we get to the deadline. That’s when cap accrual works in a buyer’s favor, allowing teams to fit bigger contracts under the ceiling for the stretch run. It’s a strategy we’ve seen before, and it’s one the Canadiens are clearly aware of.
But here’s the thing - Montreal isn’t just trying to offload Laine for the sake of it. If they do move him, it’ll be part of a broader plan.
Right now, there’s no indication they have a follow-up move lined up, but don’t be surprised if they’re working the phones behind the scenes. A Laine trade would likely come in tandem with a bigger picture roster shift.
As for where he might land, a few teams are already surfacing as potential fits.
The Calgary Flames could be an option, especially if they move Jonathan Huberdeau to LTIR, which would open up significant cap space. The Carolina Hurricanes are another team to watch. Not only do they have the room, but Laine is close friends with Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers - chemistry that could pay off on and off the ice.
The Los Angeles Kings and Seattle Kraken are also in the mix. Both clubs could use a scoring jolt, and Laine, when healthy and confident, still has one of the most dangerous shots in the league. If a team believes they can tap into that upside, he becomes a very intriguing deadline addition.
And then there’s the broader playoff picture. With teams like Seattle, the newly-minted Utah Mammoth, and the Columbus Blue Jackets all pushing for postseason spots, the market for a player like Laine could heat up quickly. That kind of competition could have ripple effects - potentially taking other names like Nick Schmaltz, Jordan Eberle, Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, or Jared McCann off the table if Laine becomes the centerpiece of a deal.
The Canadiens have options, but none of them are simple. Moving a high-salary player who hasn’t had a chance to show much this season is always going to come with risk. But for a team looking to retool - or a contender looking to gamble on upside - there’s still a path forward.
It just might take a little extra to get there.