NHL Rumor Mill – July 29, 2024
Which clubs could become trade destinations for Patrik Laine? What’s the latest on the Jets? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON PATRIK LAINE
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline believes it’s difficult to determine which NHL clubs could become trade destinations for Patrik Laine. The 26-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets winger was cleared Friday from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Laine can begin trade discussions with the Columbus Blue Jackets and interested teams can also speak with him.
Portzline points out that only six teams (Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and Utah Hockey Club) have sufficient cap space to take on his $8.7 million annual cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the Hurricanes’ cap space will be taken up by re-signing restricted free agents Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis. The same goes for the Red Wings with Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.
The list more than doubles if the Blue Jackets retain up to half of Laine’s cap hit or take back a salaried player in return. Jackets general manager Don Waddell prefers the latter option.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).
Portzline suggested Anaheim and Carolina as possible destinations, with the Montreal Canadiens having an outside shot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have the cap space to take on Laine’s full cap hit and he could provide a welcome boost to their offense. Nevertheless, they seem set on their wings for this season with Troy Terry, Frank Vatrano, Alex Killorn, Ryan Strome, Robby Fabbri and the promising Cutter Gauthier.
The Hurricanes are a possibility if they trade Martin Necas, perhaps swapping him for Laine or peddling him to another team. Otherwise, they’ll have difficulty finding sufficient cap room to do this.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens have around $7.9 million in cap space but can get an additional $10 million if necessary by placing permanently sidelined goaltender Carey Price on long-term injury reserve. They would probably prefer the Jackets retain a healthy chunk of Laine’s cap hit, assuming they’ll take the gamble on adding Laine to their rebuilding roster at this stage of his career.
Laine also has a 10-team no-trade list. Some of those clubs might be on it.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards pointed out that Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is one of Laine’s best friends. The Jackets winger knows Florida’s other Finnish players like Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola.
Richards also noted that Laine’s best seasons were with the Winnipeg Jets under Paul Maurice, who now coaches the Panthers.
Nevertheless, Richards doesn’t see Laine joining the Panthers anytime soon, suggesting that might be possible in two years when he’s a free agent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers only have $766K of cap space for 2024-25. They’d have to ship out some salary to make room for Laine.
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Ken Wiebe puts the odds of Laine returning to the Jets at 10 and 15 percent. His contract is the significant sticking point as they couldn’t afford to take it on even if the Blue Jackets retained part of his cap hit. The Jackets’ asking price would also be an issue.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have $5.8 million in cap space with Cole Perfetti due for a significant raise coming off his entry-level contract.
UPDATE ON THE JETS
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe provided an update on the standoff between the Jets and prospect Rutger McGroarty. The 20-year-old winger refused to sign an entry-level deal with the Jets and is returning to the University of Michigan in the fall.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been a much-reported disconnect between McGroarty and the Jets over the club’s development plan for him. He sees himself as NHL-ready while they’d prefer he starts with their AHL affiliate. The Jets hold his NHL rights until Aug. 15, 2026.
McIntyre doesn’t expect the Jets to give up on McGroarty and trade him for pennies on the dollar. However, his mindset makes it difficult to find much of a trade market.
Wiebe noted plenty of discussions with other teams during last month’s NHL Draft and several close calls involving a trade. The Jets haven’t closed the door on smoothing over their relationship with McGroarty. Nevertheless, Wiebe thinks he could be part of an NHL trade deadline deal for a return that includes a defenseman with several years remaining on his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McGroarty will be among the most-watched prospects in NCAA hockey this season. As Wiebe points out, the better he plays the more his value increases, to the Jets and on the trade market if he remains insistent on moving on to another NHL club.
Wiebe also noted some chatter around the draft indicating the Jets and Washington Capitals were considering a deal that would’ve included Capitals center Connor McMichael. He was bumped down the depth chart when Washington acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals could need salary-cap relief if T.J. Oshie doesn’t end up on LTIR to start this season. However, it’s doubtful they’ll part with the 23-year-old McMichael, who can be moved to left wing. He also carries an affordable $2.1 million AAV through 2025-26. Moving him now would also leave the Capitals scrambling to find a replacement in the depleted trade and free-agent markets.
Please Carolina do not have anything to do with Laine. He is so overrated. $8.7 million…..really? Move on there is nothing to see here.
Re; Lainie
This is starting to souind like the Marnier Fiasco in Toronto
if the Blue Jackets retain up to half of Laine’s cap hit $4.35M for 2 years or take back a salaried player in return, thats the only way they can move him,
dont see a lot of teams lining up for PL….❓
The Habs or Ducks or flames could take a look at him. The Habs could have $17.9M in cap space &
The Ducks have $21.M but have a full 23 man roster
the flames have 22 man roster and $20.M
What fiasco in Toronto prey tell? Laine and Marner situation have nothing in common at all. You really have a clue do you
Here’s a clue – no comparison to the Laine situation, true, but being described as a “fiasco” in this Toronto blog
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=The+Marner+fiasco#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:623d9108,vid:XQFBtLwfb0I,st:0
Anothet person who hasn’t got a clue speculating. All everybody knows is Marner doesn’t want to leave Toronto. 1 GM who wasn’t named said that Marner’s name isn’t out there, so Marner isn’t being shopped and he hasn’t been asked to waive his NMC. When Brad took over he went out and sai his priorities were to sign Matthews and Nylander. This year no statement from Brad about signing Marner or Tavares was his priority. So the guessing game started based on a statement that wasn’t made. After signing Matthews, Brad took his time dealing with Nylander, which led to rumours. Now Brad has been GM for a year and a reasonable guess says that Brad has discussed the situation with both Marner and Tavares several times. If they was an impeding fiasco, other GM’s would be circulating and the rumours would be ripe. But, there’s none of that, no juicy rumours, no nothing. Just a bunch of people throwing shit against the hoping something will stick. Will Marner and Tavares resign with Toronto, probably. Will we bitch and complain they’re overpaid, definately
You forgot one very important point, the Leafs have ZERO control of the Marner and Tavares situations. Both or either could walk at the end of the season and the Leafs get NOTHING, that would be a fiasco
It really is too bad that the CBA doesn’t allow restructuring of contracts, like the NFL.
GMs would be better served letting teams struggle with their poor signing choices, especially when there’s a NMC clause involved.
Yogi,
if the new Leafs GM was doing his job regarding A Marnier trade… yes 100% he would be doing his job, and the Same with John Tavares,
The Gong show in Toronto Maple leaf have now gone into its 7th year missing and getting knocked out in the first round,
Every year the spend to the Max with the same results….❓Right,
Real leafs fans want to win, maybe your living under a rock in toronto…
All you hear about in the Media centre of the universie ( Toronto) from May till July was who is trading for MM and what the leafs want in return
JT is way over payed at $11.M PA,
if he wants to resign in toronto it will be 1-2 years at $4.M, they should really give Austin Mathews the C,
if not i can see Mathews leaving in 4 years
You say “no juicy rumours” well looks like they talked to All 31 teams and there are No taker’s
for MM, and yes i know they both have NMC…😳
I could see a deal for Laine to return to Winnipeg. McGroarty and Pionk for Laine and a young D prospect like Jiricek or Mateychuk.
Maurice was the reason he left Winnipeg so I doubt Florida wants or can afford him.
Unless it’s like Ottawa’s deal with Hossa, it looks like Necas is staying in Carolina – 2 years $13 mil today.
Also, the Wild sign Brock Haver to an 8-year $68 mil deal.
George, I assume you mean Faber. The kid had a great rookie year, but wow, big money for long term.
I have heard about how poised and well he played, and huge minutes, but have never watched him.
They must really like him to show that type of faith in a young D-man with 1 season under his belt. Obviously think the c ap will keep climbing as well.
LOL – gotta get a new keyboard … all the frikken letters are faded!
Yeah .. Faber – thanks Ray.
Hey, 8g 39a 47 pts and a -1 in 82gp – pretty impressive for a rookie D ,,, I saw him once against Ottawa and he was very noticeable out there with his defensive poise and puck handling.
Good signing by Carolina. I hope Necas stays the full two years but the rumors will not stop. I believe Carolina had been trying to honor a Necas request to be traded during last season but could not get what they thought was a fair return.
Carolina’s biggest question mark remains the #2 center position to play with Necas. I would like to see Jarvis get a shot at #2 center but he and Aho have such great chemistry on the first line it won’t happen.
Carolina’s next steps are locking up Jarvis long term and finding a way to get Nikishin on the team this year.
Carolina still has to re-sign Seth Jarvis, I seriously doubt they can afford Patrik Laine.
I wonder if there is a link between the Panthers supposedly wanting to trade Eckblad, and the supposed connections with Laine in Florida.
The Sharks might have Caps space, but I’m pretty sure they won’t even consider using it on Laine. SJ has only recently corrected several of it’s past mistakes with high priced signings. They are not going to go through that again. They don’t have room for anyone else either for that matter, as they have to give the youngsters a chance to prove themselves.