The Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets have come together on a big trade.
The Canadiens have acquired Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets. In exchange, defenceman Jordan Harris will go from Montreal to Columbus.
Laine reportedly requested a trade earlier this year from Columbus but those talks were put on hold when the Finnish forward entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program on Jan. 28. The 26-year-old has also been dealing with a shoulder injury.
In the months after Laine entered the program, the Blue Jackets fired general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and head coach Pascal Vincent and hired Don Waddell and Dean Evason to take their places.
Laine was cleared from the program on July 26.
“We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him,” said Waddell in a statement. “We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best.”
Laine, a three-time 30-goal scorer, was limited to just 18 games last season. He has two more seasons on his contract with an $8.7 million cap hit. Notably, the Canadiens will be taking on his entire salary in the trade.
Laine joins an emerging core of star forwards in Montreal. That group includes captain Nick Suzuki, 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky and scoring-winger Cole Caufield. It also includes centre Kirby Dach, who missed almost the entire season with knee surgery, and Ivan Demidov, the club’s first-round pick this year who could push for a spot in the NHL in a year or two.
Harris, 24, has appeared in 131 NHL games for the Canadiens. Last season he had 14 points and 86 blocked shots in 56 games.
Harris’s future with Montreal was up in the air as more young defenceman in the organization pushed for playing time in the NHL. That group, which includes Arber Xhekaj, Justin Barron, Jayden Struble, Lane Hutson and Logan Mailloux made parting with Harris easier to manage for the Canadiens.
In a stunning move, the Montreal Canadiens have acquired star forward Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster trade. The trade, which was announced on Tuesday afternoon, sent shockwaves through the hockey world as fans and analysts alike tried to make sense of the deal.
Laine, who was drafted second overall by the Blue Jackets in 2016, has been one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the NHL since entering the league. Known for his lethal shot and scoring touch, Laine has consistently been among the league leaders in goals scored and has established himself as one of the premier goal scorers in the game.
The Canadiens, who have been looking to add scoring depth to their lineup, saw an opportunity to acquire Laine and jumped at the chance. In exchange for the Finnish forward, Montreal sent a package of draft picks and prospects to Columbus, including top prospect Cole Caufield.
The addition of Laine gives the Canadiens a much-needed offensive boost and adds another dangerous weapon to their already potent lineup. With Laine joining a group that includes players like Jonathan Drouin, Tyler Toffoli, and Nick Suzuki, Montreal now boasts one of the most formidable forward groups in the league.
While the trade represents a significant shakeup for both teams involved, it also raises questions about the future of the Blue Jackets and their plans moving forward. With Laine now in Montreal, Columbus will need to find a way to replace his scoring production and continue to build towards their goal of becoming a playoff contender.
Overall, the acquisition of Patrik Laine by the Montreal Canadiens is a major move that has the potential to reshape the landscape of the NHL. Fans will be eagerly anticipating Laine’s debut in a Canadiens jersey and watching to see how he impacts his new team as they push towards a playoff berth.