Former Rangers GM linked to Patrik Laine trade
Former New York Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton, now the executive vice president of hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens, is linked in trade rumors to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine.
Gorton’s Canadiens have been a team tied to Laine since last season. Things have started to pick up since Laine was cleared to return from the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program two weeks ago. The former 40-goal scorer has been in the program since January for mental health treatment.
After playing only 18 games with the Blue Jackets last season, recording six goals and nine points, Laine entered the program on Jan. 28. He was due to a return from a fractured clavicle that he sustained in December but entered the program instead of returning to play. Laine missed the rest of the season and asked for a trade out of Columbus during this offseason.
However, new Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell wants to make a “hockey trade” for Patrik Laine, who has two years remaining on a contract with an $8.7 million AAV.
As Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reported, Waddell does not just want draft picks and prospects as part of the return for Laine. He would like to get a regular lineup player without having to retain a significant part of Laine’s salary. That’d be tough to do now with most teams owning limited salary cap space this late in the summer.
In an interview with Brian Hedger of the Columbus Post Dispatch, Waddell acknowledged that he might have to retain some salary to move forward.
“We might end up eating some money. If I wanted to eat half, I could’ve traded him by now, but that’s not my first choice,” the Blue Jackets general manager said.
The Rangers have a positional fit for Laine but the economics at this stage certainly don’t fit. But there are teams that could make a Laine trade work.
Related: Rangers missed out on this bargain NHL free agent
Former Rangers GM could try to land Patrik Laine for Canadiens
So, do Gorton and the Canadiens fit in here?
The Canadiens are trying to accelerate their rebuild, like the one Gorton oversaw for several years with the Rangers. And Montreal is looking to add a top-six forward to their roster, after averaging 2.83 goals per game last season, which ranked 26th in the NHL.
That makes the idea of adding a six-time 20-goal scorer, who’s topped 28 four times, enticing.
And that’s why there’s a connection between Laine and the Canadiens on the NHL rumor mill.
Like any other team, the Canadiens could have traded for Laine before he got out of the program, but there was so much uncertainty surrounding when he was going to return to the ice that it held things up. Likely Gorton and Co. would want to speak with Laine before a potential trade to see where his head is at.
While taking on the full $8.7 million cap hit may not be ideal, the Canadiens can afford to do so once Carey Price and his $10.5 million AAV go on LTIR (long-term injured reserve). Laine is only 26 and could be an intriguing fit with young guns like Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky already in the top six.
In order for Montreal and Columbus to swing a deal, Gorton could give up less if the Canadiens took on all of Laine’s salary. But if it’s going to be a hockey deal, does Columbus really want veterans like Christian Dvorak or Joel Armia? Waddell increases his chances at landing an Alex Newhook, Josh Roy or one of Montreal’s talented young defensemen as part of a package if he retains some of that Laine salary.
The latest rumors have centered on the Minnesota Wild being an interesting landing spot for Laine. However the Wild are right up against the cap, so they’d have to get awfully creative to land the forward from the Rangers’ Metropolitan Division rival.
There’s much more of a path for the Canadiens to make a trade for the talented, if oft-injured, right wing. So, keep an eye on Gorton, who had the reputation with the Rangers as one who was unafraid of making big-time trades.
More About:New York Rangers Rumors
Read This Next
