The Montreal Canadiens could be looking to move on from forward Patrik Laine this summer, if the right deal comes along.
Insider Eric Engels discussed the Canadiens’ willingness to trade Laine if another team made an enticing offer for the 27-year-old winger. During an appearance on Sportsnet 590 The FAN published on June 24, Engels had this to say about Montreal’s desire to shed the last year of Laine’s contract:
“If the phone rang and somebody wanted to take on the last year of Patrik Laine’s deal, I don’t think the Canadiens would necessarily hesitate to ship it out.”
Laine is in the final year of his current deal. He signed a four-year, $34.8 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022 after leaving the Winnipeg Jets. Things didn’t go well in Columbus for Laine, though. He eventually requested a trade, landing in Montreal last summer.
The former second-overall pick from 2016 had a solid bounce-back, injury-filled year. He scored 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games this past season. He appeared in two playoff games, leaving in the middle of the Montreal Canadiens’ opening-round series with the Washington Capitals due to a broken finger.
Despite the Habs’ willingness to part with Laine’s contract, the team isn’t desperate to do so. Engels noted:
“I don’t think they’re necessarily ripping their hair out to find ways to get him out of Montreal over this last year. There’s still an opportunity for him to prove to be a valuable piece.”
Montreal Canadiens Could Trade Patrik Laine Due to Salary Cap Constraints
PuckPedia shows the Montreal Canadiens having $6.1 million in cap space this summer. The chatter surrounding the Canadiens’ offseason plans is to land a top-six center. Ideally, this center could play with Ivan Demidov on a new-look Montreal second line.
With their cap space situation, however, landing a bona fide second-line center could be challenging. Even if the Canadiens pulled off a significant trade, they would still need to find cap space to fit a new contract.
That’s where the Canadiens could try to move Patrik Laine and his $8.7 million cap hit this season. As Engels mentioned, the Habs aren’t openly shopping Laine. But push may come to shove if the Canadiens need to clear cap space for another big contract.
Big Year Ahead for Patrik Laine
Engels noted one other key point. Laine is entering a crucial year in which he’ll need to prove he’s a valuable piece.
Laine, as Engels underscored, has a chance to change the perception surrounding him. Engels stated:
“Canadiens don’t have an answer to that right now… saying we think we can win with this guy. [Patrik Laine] has the opportunity to change that perception with what he does this offseason.”
This upcoming season could be Laine’s last chance to earn a multi-year deal. If he fails to impress, he could have trouble landing a new contract for next season and beyond. Assuming Laine remains in Montreal, the Canadiens hope the Finnish winger continues to build on the success he showed this past season.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Montreal Canadiens Could Be Looking to Move on from $34.8 million forward: Insider appeared first on Heavy Sports.