According to a report from Finnish hockey insider Antti Mäkinen, forward Patrik Laine has been “kicked off” the Montreal Canadiens.

NHLSuomi.com contends that Mäkinen is a good friend of Laine and that he shared the personal info on his Finnish-language podcast called Kimanttia.

“I know the facts,” Mäkinen says in Finnish. “Laine is not injured, it is just easier for the Canadiens to announce he has a minor injury, when in reality he has already been kicked off the team. From what I’ve heard he might be heading to Los Angeles.”
“Don’t be surprised if there is a trade before the trade deadline,” Mäkinen continues. “It is hoped that both sides will do so. There were hopes that the transfer would have come before the Olympic break, but it didn’t.”

“As a matter of fact, I know that a few clubs have inquired about him. Now we’ll just see what kind of deal can be made there,” Mäkinen concludes.

So… I should say first that I have no idea whether Mäkinen is a reliable source or not. Finnish media are running with his story though, so take that for what it’s worth. Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire… and this story is smokin’ in Finland today.

Laine, of course, has played just five games for the Habs this season before undergoing surgery in late October. He hasn’t played a game since. He’s in the final year of a four year deal that pays him $8.7 million per season and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

Obviously the rumors tying him to the Los Angeles Kings are intriguing, but what’s most fascinating to me about Laine is just how far off track his career has gone. He’s still just 27 years old and he’s a former 44 goal scorer…

I mean, if you transplant yourself back to 2018 after Laine’s breakout 44 goal, 70 point campaign with the Winnipeg Jets there’s no way you would have been able to predict his fall off. In the meantime he has bounced around between Winnipeg, Columbus and Montreal and has never really managed to find his footing despite receiving so many prime opportunities.

If Laine does indeed make it to free agency this upcoming offseason it’s going to be absolutely fascinating to see where he ends up and what his next contract looks like. He has the potential to either flame out entirely or two reinvent himself and go on to a successful second half of his career. I get the feeling that things could go either way.