Blue Jackets Trade Patrik Laine To The Canadiens

by | Aug 19, 2024 | News, NHL, Rumors | 25 comments

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded winger Patrik Laine and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris.

There was no salary retention by the Blue Jackets. The Canadiens take on Laine’s full $8.7 million average annual cap hit through 2025-26.

Columbus Blue Jackets trade winger Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens. (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for the recent assumptions (including mine) suggesting a Laine trade might not occur until around Christmas at the earliest. To be fair, those were based on Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell suggesting it could take that long during a round of interviews late last week.

This is a calculated gamble by Canadiens GM Kent Hughes. Laine was a 44-goal scorer in his sophomore season (2017-18) with the Winnipeg Jets but he’s struggled with injuries and consistency during his tenure with the Blue Jackets. He entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in January for mental health reasons and remained there until late last month.

The 26-year-old winger could be a welcome boost to the Canadiens’ offense if he can stay healthy and regain his scoring touch. His cap hit takes a big chunk from their payroll and could be an expensive mistake cap-wise. Still, the Habs only carry his contract for two seasons.

Laine was unhappy with the Blues Jackets and wanted out of Columbus. He gets a chance at a fresh start in Montreal but will face considerable pressure playing in one of hockey’s biggest and most passionate markets. How well he adjusts will have ramifications for the Canadiens’ scoring punch in the short term and Laine’s career overall.

Harris, 24, was a third-round pick of the Canadiens in 2018. The young puck-moving defenseman spent the past two seasons with the Habs. The expected additions of Lane Hutson and Logan Mailloux to their defense corps this season made Harris the odd man out. He should get a better opportunity to earn more playing time with the Blue Jackets.

Waddell wanted to make a hockey trade when he started peddling Laine last month. He gets a young NHL player and sheds the entirety of Laine’s contract, leaving the Jackets with over $18 million in cap space for this season with 22 of his 23 active roster players under contract. That gives Waddell plenty of room to make other moves this season if necessary.







25 Comments

  1. Correction Lyle, it’s Laine and a 2nd round pick in 2026 pick for Harris.

    • Fixed, thanks!

  2. Ffs. I hate this move.

    • SOP may I assume that the Bruin fan in you hates that it’s good deal for the Habs?

      • Begrudgingly, yes.

  3. Heh – now that they’re $1,072,084 over the cap with 22 of 23 – 14F 6D 2G – maybe they’ll find a use for Price’s LTIR 🙂

  4. Bwahaha. No salary retained.

    Let’s see. Some sort of mental health difficulties. Stay in the market where you can pretty much remain annonymous and only deal with a couple media types, or…….get traded to a place that will be laser focused on your every move and you can’t go to dinner with your girl without feeling like a zoo exhibit. Makes complete sense.

    • Many mental health professionals prescribe just that. Avoidance can often exacerbate mental health issues. *shrug*

  5. Example # 435 of a wrong opinion expressed by me on this site.

    I had expressed the same reservations as Pup, albeit with a bit more kindness for Laine. It will be a tough market for the guy … hope he stays healthy.

    • I truely mean no disrespect to Laine. I’m a Jackets fan and really was hoping he would stay and it would all work out. The entire thing is just weird. I was just trying to grasp some of the irony.

      • Also keep in mind, some guys want or need the spot light to boost their ego. I think Laine is one of those guys that likes and wants the spotlight.

        I think it’s a pretty good move, even as a stop gap…it will be interesting to see what this move will actually will be. I suspect a couple more moves coming up to balance out the lineup.

  6. I love the trade! I see it as a UFA pick up. Harris for a 2nd, which isn’t a bad deal, and then Laine at no extra cost.

    It’s well worth the risk. Laine can be a big time scorer. And they’re only committed to him for two years if he doesn’t work out. The Habs have plenty of cap space this year. And a ton of useless money coming off the books next year.

    The Habs now have a very solid top 6. Let’s hope everyone stays healthy.

    May be worth seeing if they can use the 2nd as a sweetener to move Anderson out.

    • Comforting take, Howard. And I misread the first report, I thought we gave up Harris and a 2nd. Getting a second for him, given the Habs’ depth at D, is impressive.

    • Since when has no cost equaled 8.7 mil/2 yrs?

      • Pupinabox- it’s just Molson’s money. No significant player/draft choice was given for Laine. Worst case scenario he stinks or goes on LTIR and in 2 years he comes off the books. Best case scenario, he regains his scoring touch and either signs long term or gets traded 2026 trade deadline for significant assets. I think it’s worth the “cost” especially since it’s not coming out of my pocket.

      • It’s probably more like 8.7 for 1 year, with the buyout as an option if he doesn’t play well

    • Could not have said it better myself Howard! Can’t wait until the season starts.

    • Howard, as I posted in the other thread where it was announced, he should add considerably to the top 6 production and, depending upon the domino effect – i.e., who gets dropped to the 3rd line, it could boost that grouping as well.

      Just as I hope Norris can get past his chronic shoulder woes in Ottawa, I truly hope Laine can rejuvenate his career in Montreal.

      • And it holds a helluva lot more promise than the aging turnover machine Letang

      • George, that was exactly what Hughes was looking to a deal.

        A young D-man (I figured package) for a young 2nd line winger.

        The 2nd round pick was an added bonus.

  7. Love it!!!

    A high or mid-round 2nd rounder for Harris.

    Laine is really a no cost addition.

    Laine & Price both have 2 years remaining on their contracts. Price’s contract covers (& more) all of Laine’s contract.

    This folks is how LTIR cap money works advantageously for a team.

    If it doesn’t workout for Laine, he is off the books in 2 years.

    Only 26 yrs old to boot, maybe it will workout long term for both

  8. Even if Laine is predominately only on the PP it will help Montreal. Waddell did not make the mistake in the first place and is fixing someone else’s mess.
    I like undersized Harris but seems a little light for a return except for the $16m of course.
    52 games is all you will get out of Laine I am afraid . And it is not 90% half mental .

    Over under on the Oil matching 1 or 2 or both offer sheets.
    Out of principal I would match both and figure it out later.

    • Didn’t Holloway ask for a trade in the recent past (before these offer sheets were done)?
      I have a sense that Edm will let him go, possibly not wanting someone who does not want to be there. If true, is the Podkolzin trade makes more sense.
      So match Broberg, let Holloway walk, and slot Podkolzin into the mix.
      They will still have some shuffling to do once Kane suits back up, but that could be a couple months down the road depending on if/when he has surgery.

  9. Worst case scenario Laine is damaged goods and a bust and contract runs out in 2 years, Habs clear a bit of a logjam on D and get another 2nd round pick for the stockpile.

    Best case, Laine rejuvenates his career and the Habs instantly have a scoring 2nd line.

    Either way it’s a good move.

    • I agree… the only downside is $/cap space for the next 2 years if Laine can’t perform and/or can’t handle the pressure of Montreal.
      I always figured he might go to a team out West where he could work on his game without the microscope (Anahiem, San Jose, Utah, etc).
      It will be interesting to see where he plays in the lineup/PP and how he responds.