As the Montreal Canadiens begin to prepare for the NHL season to start back up after the Olympic break, Patrik Laine was playing an unfamiliar position at Tuesday’s practice. Near the end of practice, Laine was playing as a defenceman for a couple of drills. At this point, it is no longer a secret that the Canadiens are trying to trade Laine, with reports emerging a couple of months ago that they would be willing to eat a portion of his salary to facilitate a deal.

Patrik Laine qui est utilisé comme défenseur lors des deux derniers exercices à l’entraînement…..

Ça en dit long. @DLCoulisses pic.twitter.com/OIVZkmbWis

— Marc-Olivier Cook (@Cook_Marco) February 24, 2026

The team does not see a spot for him in the lineup, especially now that Alex Newhook has shed the non-contact jersey. The NHL Trade Deadline is two weeks away, and if Tuesday’s practice was any indication, the Canadiens will be working hard to find the Finnish forward a new home.

There were reports that the Los Angeles Kings could be a suitor for Laine. The Kings need another forward after losing Kevin Fiala to a devastating injury at the Olympics. However, those rumours were shut down rather quickly. Dennis Bernstein, a senior writer at The Fourth Period, reported that the Kings do not believe Laine is the right fit and will be looking at other options. With the Kings out of the picture for now, the Canadiens will have to look elsewhere to find a trade partner for the three-time 30-goal scorer.

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings need help scoring goals, and that is exactly what Laine provides. They sit third in the Atlantic Division, tied with the Canadiens in points, but the difference is that the Red Wings have a goal differential of -1, the worst of any team currently in a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Marco Kaspar has 13 points in 57 games and is currently listed as their first-line left winger. For a team with playoff aspirations, that is not good enough.

It would be surprising if the Red Wings do not make a move at the trade deadline to improve their top-six group, and with them having the most cap space available in the league, salary is not an issue. The only thing that could present a problem for the Canadiens trading Laine to the Red Wings is the fact that they play in the same division and are competing against each other for a playoff spot. It is a risk, but if the Canadiens truly want Laine off the roster, the Red Wings make a lot of sense.

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are in a similar boat to the Red Wings. While they do not have a negative goal differential like the Red Wings, they are the team with the fewest goals for out of any team in the Eastern Conference. Jonathan Drouin, Ondrej Palat, and Calum Ritchie are all players currently listed in their top-six, and have a combined 15 goals on the season. The Islanders also have the 30th-ranked power play. For a team in a playoff spot, that is a major problem.

If you need help scoring goals, Laine is definitely a player you should be looking at. The biggest obstacle standing in the way of a deal being done is that the Islanders pride themselves on being a defensively responsible team, not exactly what Laine excels at. However, that also means they are the team best equipped to handle a player like Laine.

Because they are so good defensively, conceding the 3rd-lowest goals per game (2.71), they could add a player like Laine and still be one of the best defensive teams in the league. Laine would be a high-risk/high-reward move for the Islanders, but for a team that is struggling to score goals, it might be one they have to take.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are not a team fighting for a playoff spot this season, and the only reason they would consider trading for a player like Laine is to give Connor Bedard a legitimate top-six winger. As it stands right now, Bedard’s linemates are Ryan Greene and Andre Burakovsky. While Burakovsky has been an effective player throughout his career, he is better suited playing in your bottom-six rather than on your top line. Greene is a rookie, so it is difficult to say he is not a player who should be getting first-line minutes. However, it is asking a lot for a player who is adjusting to the NHL game to step into your lineup and help take some pressure off Bedard.

Bedard draws all the attention when he is on the ice, but this is where Laine could help the Blackhawks. Bringing Laine frees up space for Bedard, giving him a pure shooter on his line. For all the shortcomings in Laine’s game, one thing you have to respect is his shot. The Canadiens experienced it briefly last season, when he scored 20 goals in just 52 games. 15 of those were on the power play, and with the Blackhawks having the NHL’s 19th-ranked unit when on the man advantage, he could definitely be an asset for them.