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The latest round of Montreal Canadiens rumors posits that Patrik Laine could be on his way to the Metro Division.
The downtime in the NHL hasn’t been reason enough to stop Montreal Canadiens rumors from hitting the wire. In fact, the Habs will likely be in the chatter as executives work behind the scenes to lay the groundwork for the trade deadline.
One of the purported deals in the hopper is a trade involving Patrik Laine. Now, news of Laine heading out the door in Montreal really isn’t anything new. The signs have been there for a while now.
Laine’s onerous cap hit and checkered injury history have made his contract a burden on the team. So, it seems that the Habs are actively looking to trade the 27-year-old. However, the biggest question would be which team takes a swing at Laine.
According to Marco D’Amico of RG Media, Canadiens rumors point towards Laine heading to the Metro Division. In particular, the Carolina Hurricanes could be the team looking to bring in the Finnish sniper.
D’Amico’s rationale for this trade hinges on a connection between Laine and the Hurricanes.
“The Carolina Hurricanes have significant cap space and have two of Laine’s best friends – Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers – on the roster.”
The two points make Carolina an ideal landing spot for Laine. Per ongoing Canadiens rumors, Montreal doesn’t want to retain anything on Laine. That’s why the Hurricanes, with the cap space they currently have, could afford the remainder of Laine’s cap hit this season.
If that’s the case, the Canadiens would be willing to take anything at all just to shed Laine’s cap hit.
Carolina Connection Strong for Laine
The connection to Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers makes sense. Aho and Laine are both from Finland, with their younger days spent in the Finnish system. Aho was drafted one year before Laine. They have also played together on the Finnish national team, most recently at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
As for Ehlers, the two spent five seasons together with the Winnipeg Jets. As such, their friendship emerged from their time on the same squad. That situation could make Laine’s transition to Carolina much easier.
Canadiens Rumors Not Just Limited to Carolina
D’Amico also suggested other potential destinations for Laine. The LA Kings could be a team willing to take a shot on Laine amid their need for more scoring. Similarly, the Seattle Kraken could be another club looking to add scoring in any way they can.
An intriguing possibility, however, is the Calgary Flames. The recent loss of Jonathan Huberdeau to hip surgery opens up plenty of cap space for the club. So, Laine could be a decent option for the Flames.
It’s worth taking these Canadiens rumors with a grain of salt. Laine holds a 10-team no-trade clause. That’s why it would be interesting to see which teams are on that list. The Kraken and Flames, for instance, could be a part of that no-trade list.
But the Kings may not. So, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine Canadiens rumors involving another deal with the Kings picking up. Earlier this season, the Kings sent Phillip Danault to the Habs. The next deal may now be Montreal sending Laine to Los Angeles.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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