[Trade] CBJ trade Patrik Laine (no retention) + 2026 2nd to Montreal for Jordan Harris

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Royle9

It's not the cost MTL gave up, its the fact its a full cap hit for 2 years on a guy who very likely could be done with hockey, let alone get back to his first few seasons and goal scoring potential.
(Icon beat me to it!)

As for the Flames perspective, Flames were never interested in Laine they were simply looking to broker salary retention. MTL however took the full cap hit, so no need for us to get involved.

Now montreal is in need of a defenseman and they have no cap space

[Bingo Jr.]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

Now montreal is in need of a defenseman and they have no cap space

If you're using PuckPedia, Price's 10.5M hasn't been allocated to LTIR. So they are just fine. When Slaf's extension kicks in next year though...

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

Now montreal is in need of a defenseman and they have no cap space

They have plenty of young D men for entry level cap hits, they will be fine.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't think this is a slam-dunk win for Montreal. It may prove to be a slam dunk for them if Laine turns around there. I imagine that this was the best offer - or at least the best offer from one of the teams that Laine was willing to go to. I have a hard time believing Montreal was at the top of his list of destinations, as that environment is notorious for digging deep into players' personal life.


I hate Montreal, but hopefully Laine does turn his career around.

[TheScorpion]

Great, great deal for the Habs

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

Now montreal is in need of a defenseman and they have no cap space

Montreal has a surplus of defencemen (albeit young)
Matheson - Guhle
Hutson - Savard
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Barron

(with Reinbacher in the wings)


This is a huge steal for the Habs who also get a (high) second.
I would bet Laine fits in well and boosts the second line RW. He either re-signs or the Habs retain and get another pick.

The Habs are the best run Canadian club.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Royle9

It's not the cost MTL gave up, its the fact its a full cap hit for 2 years on a guy who very likely could be done with hockey, let alone get back to his first few seasons and goal scoring potential.
(Icon beat me to it!)

As for the Flames perspective, Flames were never interested in Laine they were simply looking to broker salary retention. MTL however took the full cap hit, so no need for us to get involved.

Is he done with hockey? I don't know.

The comments made by the GM made it seem like it was not a locker room he could come back to. Something must have happened.

[lazypucker]

Bold prediction - Laine will not work out in Montreal, neither will Dubois in Washington. I forsee a 1-for-1 trade next summer...

[InternationalVillager]

Wow Habs killed it in this trade. Zero downside.

Even if Laine fails- they walk away with a 2nd round pick.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Royle9

It's not the cost MTL gave up, its the fact its a full cap hit for 2 years on a guy who very likely could be done with hockey, let alone get back to his first few seasons and goal scoring potential.
(Icon beat me to it!)

As for the Flames perspective, Flames were never interested in Laine they were simply looking to broker salary retention. MTL however took the full cap hit, so no need for us to get involved.

To be fair Montreal received a 2nd round pick for taking full contract. As for being done with hockey, not sure where you are getting that information from.

[traptor]

Savy move again by the habs.

[Erick Estrada]

The only downside I see if for Laine. That's not an ideal market for a player with personal issues as the fans are pretty ruthless.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

As for being done with hockey, not sure where you are getting that information from.

From Laine himself, he's struggled to keep himself motivated and his desire for hockey has declined drastically. His love for video games sadly took a priority for a long period of time a few years ago.

He's been very vocal about his struggles with mental health, which all be it is terrible for someone to deal with and I hope he fully recovers and can turn it around.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Saying that about the Montreal Canadians of all teams is wild lol. Sean Monahan was cast aside here and become relevant there again

Didn't say Calgary wasn't in a similar vein.

Flames are doing the same with Kuzmenko and Sharangovich.

But while those players are Flames no one really cares or takes notice of them. Same with players in Montreal.

Both are irrelevant wastelands lately.

[SuperMatt18]

Even at his worst Laine has been playing pretty close to a PPG the last 2.5 seasons and seems like a pretty good risk for Montreal. (117 points in 129 games, 34 goal per 82 game pace)

At the 2026 deadline when they trade him for a 1st if not more we will probably be having the same discussions we had about Monahan.

The issue is the $17.4M of risk that come with two years left on that contract, but Montreal is banking that they can either get a productive player that helps their team, or that they can potentially flip him for a 1st at the 2026 deadline and end up getting a 1st and 2nd from this deal.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Royle9

From Laine himself, he's struggled to keep himself motivated and his desire for hockey has declined drastically. His love for video games sadly took a priority for a long period of time a few years ago.

He's been very vocal about his struggles with mental health, which all be it is terrible for someone to deal with and I hope he fully recovers and can turn it around.

I wonder if a hockey mad market like Montreal with plenty of other things to do might be the shot of adrenaline that gets Laine excited again. It might go against convention, but hopefully it works for him. There was a time when he was the best teen aged goalscorer since like Mario Lemieux. So as a fan of hockey I'd love to see him get back to using his talents again.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Even at his worst Laine has been playing pretty close to a PPG the last 2.5 seasons and seems like a pretty good risk for Montreal. (117 points in 129 games, 34 goal per 82 game pace)

At the 2026 deadline when they trade him for a 1st if not more we will probably be having the same discussions we had about Monahan.

Hughes has done an excellent job in leveraging cap space since he took over in January 2022.

August 2022: Acquired Sean Monahan + 1st round pick in 2025 for nothing.
June 2023: Re-signs Monahan to a 1 year, cheap contract.
February 2024: Trades Sean Monahan for a 1st round pick in 2024

Kent Hughes acquired a 2024 1st round pick, a 2025 1st round pick, and got 74 games out of Sean Monahan. That is incredible work.
He has now acquired Patrik Laine + 2nd for a depth defenceman.

Master class in weaponizing salary cap space. I don't think anyone has done this better in recent years.

[Paulie Walnuts]

He has weaponized cap space, but he has also traded picks for guys like Dach and Newhook who may not work out.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Hughes has done an excellent job in leveraging cap space since he took over in January 2022.

August 2022: Acquired Sean Monahan + 1st round pick in 2025 for nothing.
June 2023: Re-signs Monahan to a 1 year, cheap contract.
February 2024: Trades Sean Monahan for a 1st round pick in 2024

Kent Hughes acquired a 2024 1st round pick, a 2025 1st round pick, and got 74 games out of Sean Monahan. That is incredible work.
He has now acquired Patrik Laine + 2nd for a depth defenceman.

Master class in weaponizing salary cap space. I don't think anyone has done this better in recent years.

Good timing of bad team, rich owners, and a flat cap.

If Flames didn't already take on Kuzmenko I bet they would have been in on this.

But with Kuzmenko and Huberdeau they don't really have the roster room to take on another contract like this and be able to successfully pump and dump this with PP time.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Good timing of bad team, rich owners, and a flat cap.

If Flames didn't already take on Kuzmenko I bet they would have been in on this.

But with Kuzmenko and Huberdeau they don't really have the roster room to take on another contract like this and be able to successfully pump and dump this with PP time.

Yeah, I hope Kuzmenko has himself a hell of a season and we can pull a 2nd or a 2nd + out of the guy at the deadline.