Insider reveals how close Patrik Laine is to being traded
Patrick Laine's time with the Columbus Blue Jackets has come to an end. The forward from Finland just completed his time in the Players' assistance program.
As the NHL season draws closer, it appears that Patrick Laine's days with the Columbus Blue Jackets are coming to an end and although there are several suitors some believe that although not imminent, the 26-year-old Finn will be on a new team to start the 2024-2025 season.
Laine, who had entered the league's players assistance program back in January shortly after sustaining a broken clavicle against the Toronto Maple Leafs in mid-December has been cleared by the program to resume his NHL career.
According to George Richard's of Florida Hockey Now, Laine seems destined to end up with the Florida Panthers before puck drop next season.
While it appears that the Blue Jackets and Laine want to move on from each other sooner rather than later the hold-up on a deal was the fact that teams were unable to speak with the forward while he was in the program. Compounding complications of a deal is also in fact that he is owed an awful lot of money in the remaining two years of his deal. With a cap hit of $8.7 million, few teams would be willing and able to take Laine on their team without reassurance that he's healthy and prepared to contribute.
However, Laine and the Panthers could be a match made in heaven. It's no secret that Sasha Barkov is one of Laine's best friends, along with Eetu Luostarin, Anton Lundell & Niko Mikkola who are fellow Finns. Coupled with the fact that Panthers head coach Paul Maurice was Laine's' coach for the first four seasons of his career where he amassed 138 goals.
Whether this happens remains to be seen, but one thing is clear, Laine will be with a new team to begin the 2024-25 regular season after Don Waddell made it public that they were looking for a deal.
Source: Florida Hockey Now
PANTHERSLaine Is On the Trade Market. He Has Ties to the Florida Panthers
| POLL | ||
Can Patrick Laine still contribute to an NHL team? | ||
| Yes. He's still young. | 83 | 81.4 % |
| No. He doesn't deserve another chance. | 19 | 18.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
