NHL Rumor Mill – July 27, 2024
Trade talks are expected to heat up for Patrik Laine. Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets can now proceed with trade talks for Patrik Laine after the 26-year-old winger was released from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).
Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said several NHL teams expressed an interest in Laine, but requested to speak with him first. More clubs could also get involved now that Laine has been cleared. Those teams will also be interested in his ongoing recovery from a shoulder injury suffered last season.
Waddell has said he’d prefer to make a hockey trade, acquiring a roster regular as part of the return without retaining a significant portion of Laine’s contract. However, Portzline believes such a deal could be difficult to find this deep in the offseason, with both clubs having already settled their rosters.
Portzline notes Laine’s contract is a significant impediment. He’s signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $8.7 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber also cited Portzline’s recent interview with TSN 690 Montreal speculating the Blue Jackets could accept a return of draft picks and prospects rather than roster players.
Silber noted the Capitals have a considerable amount of promising talent within their system and two second-round picks and two fifth-rounders in next year’s draft. It would be a bold move for new GM Chris Patrick but the gamble could be worth it if the price is right.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski observed that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman previously linked Laine to the Capitals. Kingerski also believes Laine would be a good fit with the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Only six teams – Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks and Utah Hockey Club – can afford to take on Laine’s full cap hit if the Blue Jackets prefer a return of picks and prospects.
Of those teams, the Red Wings and Hurricanes have key free agents to re-sign that will eat up most of their cap space. As for the others, they could be on Laine’s no-trade list.
For other clubs interested in Laine, it’ll have to be a salaried player heading to Columbus to make the dollars fit. Otherwise, the Blue Jackets must retain up to half his cap hit.
We’ll start hearing more about which teams are interested in Laine in the coming days.
DET is full of great wingers now in their top 6, why would they want/need Laine?
still think CAR is the best spot for Laine, unless their clown of an owner has tightened the purse strings, or prefers not to deal with his former GM
Will Necas play/extend in CLB?
Laine + Johnson for Necas signed for at least 4 yrs.
or: Kotkaniemi + 2nd for Laine
No one is going to want KK, Johnny. He has had ample time to prove himself and he has not.
It was Waddel’s worst signing in Carolina. Sure he is relieved to not have to deal with this anymore…
mikeP: I never said the Red Wings would want or need Laine. I simply noted they were among six teams that could afford to take on his full cap hit but have key RFAs to re-sign that will eat up most of their cap space.
I don’t think Laine is a fit in Carolina. He is over paid, doesn’t defend well enough, and doesn’t play with the type of energy or pace Brind’Amour demands.
Although there are many Dundon decisions I don’t like, I have a lot of respect for what he has done in the community and with the team. Carolina has gone from about 6000 season tickets to a waiting list for season tickets. They have made it through the first round the last 6 years. The team spends to the cap and seems to be in on every opportunity to improve the team. I agree they have had a really bad offseason but the guy is far from a clown.
Carolina should keep Necas for another year or two until they can get a return that improves the team.
While I agree with Kingerski, I’m not sure the Penguins have the means to make that work unless Columbus would be interested in Jarry and some salary retention on Laine.
SAME OLD..i hear ya you are right about Laine us retention by Columbus.
What about Rakell solid second liner 20 goal potential maybe more with playing time.us a pick?
I would like Ehlers..Winnipeg wants a top 4 dman at the deadline last year.
Maybe Marcus Pettersson pending ufa us a second and maybe Accari too? Money evens out..
We would have to sign a dman maybe oliver kylingto Calgary
Thoughts
Giving Kylington a shot would be a interesting option.
Relative to Laine’s ceiling, which he may or may never come close to again, I think CBJ fans are going to be pretty disappointed at the return. At least for those fans who still believe in him.
You have to wonder if some teams – rather than go the trade route – will offer deals to any of the remaining UFAs, with the following seemingly the better of what’s left. None, certainly, can be seeking significant contracts and so could fill a role at rock-bottom prices – if they wish to prolong their careers.
Shown is their position, age, last season stats including +/- (which have to be considered in light of the overall performance of their team – e.g. San Jose) and expiring deal. Some may have to settle for a PTO. (I hope I haven’t inadvertently included a player recently signed)
Forwards
Alexander Barabanov RW 30 y/o 4g 9a 13 pts -24 46gp San Jose – exp. $2.5 mil
Cal Clutterbuck RW 36 y/o 7g 12a 19 pts +4 82gp NYI – exp. $1.75 mil
Nick Cousins LW 30 y/o 7g 8a 15 pts + 1 69gp Fla – exp. $1.1 mil
Mike Hoffman RW 10g 13a 23 pts -21 66gp San Jose – exp. $4.5 mil
Tyler Johnson RW 33 y/o 17g 14a 31 pts -35 67gp Chi – exp. $5 mil
Dominik Kubalik LW 28 y/o 11g 4a 15 pts -30 74gp Ottawa – exp. $2.5 mil
Kevin Labanc RW 28 y/o 2g 7a 9 pts -27 46gp San Jose – exp. $4.73 mil
Alex Nylander LW 26 y/o 11g 15a 26 pts -1 28gp Columbus – exp. $775,000
Max Pacioretti LW 35 y/o 4g 19a 23 pts -14 47gp Wash – exp. $2 mil
James Van Riemsdyk RW 35 y/o 11g 27a 38 pts +7 71gp Bos – exp. $1 mil
Jacob Vrana LW 28 y/o 2g 6a 8 pts -7 21gp St. Louis – exp. $5.25 mil
Blake Wheeler RW 37 y/o 9g 12a 21 pts +2 54gp NYR – exp. $800,000
Filip Zadina RW 24 y/o 13g 10a 23 pts -44 72gp San Jose – exp. $1.1 mil
Defense
Tyson Barrie RD 33 y/o 1g 14a 15 pts -10 41gp Nash – exp. $4.5 mil
Tony DeAngelo RD 28 y/o 3g 8a 11 pts -2 31gp Carolina – exp. $1.68 mil
Mark Giordano LD 40 y/o 3g 6a 9 pts +10 46gp Toronto – exp. $800,000
John Klingberg RD 31 y/o 1g 4a 5 pts -7 14gp Toronto – exp. $4.15 mil
Oliver Kylington LD 27 y/o 3g 5a 8 pts -6 33gp Calgary – exp. $2.5 mil
Justin Schultz RD 33 y/o 7g 19a 26 pts -23 70gp Seattle – exp. $3 mil
Kevin Shattenkirk RD 35 y/o 6g 18a 24 pts -2 61gp Boston – exp. $1,050,000
Goalies
Kevin Lankinen 29 y/o 2.82gaa 0.908 save % 24gp Nashville $2 mil
Anti Raanta 35 y/o 2.99gaa 0.872 save % 24 gp Carolina $1.5 mil
Nice List, George.
I don’t see Klingberg and Barrie receiving offers of $4 M plus. Barrie eventually busts and Klingberg could easily end up back on LTIR during the season. A Klingberg signing only makes sense for non-contenders with plenty of excess cap space or teams who are already dipping into LTIR funds and are expected to remain in that position for the majority of next season.
Hammer_of_the_Gods, I doubt any of them get anywhere near their expiring cap hits, except Giordano and Wheeler, both already at rock bottom – and van Riemsdyk, who’s worth another $1 mil deal.
I’ll add Nylander who could get an offer similar to his expired deal.
A Laine trade is going to be tough,
for CBJ its Salary Dump $8.7M for 2 yrs
they maybe a small handfull of teams that could
do a trade with cap room and there own salary dump.
Laine has failed in both CBJ & Winnipeg
is it 3rd time lucky with him or just an other gamble
i think the CBJ fans will be happy just to get rid of his Huge contract at this stage so they can continue with there re-build.🤔
They also need to move Goaltender Elvis
Merzlikins @$5.4M for 3 more years……Thats also going to be a tough one ⁉️
I would say it’s a pretty big leap into revisionist history to claim Laine “failed” in Winnipeg, even though things never fully worked out. He had 140 goals in 306 games with the Jets and was also part of their trip to the WCF in 2018. His time with Columbus on the other hand has been a disaster, mainly due to injuries and organizational and roster instability.
Agree Brock Landers. Certainly, for various reasons, Laine can be seen as a bit of an enigma, but when it comes to his 82-game points average he has at least shown to be pretty consistent.
When he entered the league in Winnipeg he was all of 18 y/o and in 4 full seasons there played 305 games with 138 goals 109 assists 247 pts, and missing just 12 games. His 82-game averages in Winnipeg work out to 37g 29a 66 pts.
In the shortened 2020-21 season he played the opening game for Winnipeg on Jan 14, 2021 scoring 2 goals (incl. the OT winner) and 1 assist and 3 day s later was dealt to Columbus with Roslovic for Dubois and a 2022 3rd round pick.
In 4 seasons with Columbus he has missed 128 games through injury/personal issues, playing 174 games with 64 goals 74 assists 138 pts – or 82-game averages of 30g 35a 65 pts – total points being consistent with his performance in Winnipeg.
So, after 8 NHL seasons, 66 points appears to be what you can expect out of him on average. Is that worth $8.7 mil over 2 more seasons? And, of course, there’s the question of his recent injury/personal issues history.
https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/patrik-laine-player-injuries
Konecny just got around the same salary and his best season was 68 pts. If you can get Laine at 25% retained I think if he can stay healthy the 30-35 goals will be well worth it.
If there was some obvious deal with Ottawa where the cap exchange was close I’d love to see them take a chance. That added F scoring power could be just what they need to push them closer to playoff territory.
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Unfortunately, I just don’t see any likely exchange.
williew you might want to look up Laine stats before you make an statement that Laine failed in Winnipeg.
The reason Laine got his present contract was because of his success in Winnipeg.
Laine last season in Winnipeg he scored 28 goals 35 assists 63pts in 68 games played. Hardly a failure.
Winnipeg should trade Mcgroaty for for Laine with some salary retained. He played his best hockey in Winnipeg and the problem here was with Wheeler, who is long gone. He’s also close friends with Ehlers and they can extend Ehlers at the same time. Winnipeg’s window will close in a few years and they could use the added scoring now. They can throw in Appleton to free up some cap space, who would be easy to replace on the third line.
That makes some sense so probably not going to happen. Would be win win for all concerned But still doubt elhers re signs Cbj would have to eat probably 1/2 of contract to get any type of return IMHO
That’s an interesting take. I don’t hate the idea, Dave.
McGroarty and Pionk for Laine and Jiricek would take care of Laine’s contract
Would Montreal be interested in Laine?
Habs could send Dvorak ($4.45 x 1) and Joel Armia ($3.4 x 1) for a good monetary fit.
Montreal also has two 1st round picks in 2025, their own and Calgary’s from the Sean Monahan trade that could be included.
Canadiens also have a couple of “A” level defensive prospects they could offer if CBJs were more interested in a younger player who is closer to making the NHL.
A first line of Slavkovsky – Suzuki – Laine could be very dangerous.
I certainly hope the Habs could swing a reasonable deal for Laine. A 26 year old solid scorer with 2 years left on his contract. I’m sure Hughes will check on it.
Agreed Howard. Columbus would either have to eat some of his contract or take Gallagher or Anderson as part of the deal but I would like to give Laine a chance to revive his career. It’s only for 2 years so it’s low risk and if he does revive his career he could be the best player we have.