NHL trade rumors: Montreal Canadiens could quietly move Patrik Laine as contract expiration looms
Montreal Canadiens are open to trading Patrik Laine (Getty Images)
The Montreal Canadiens face a pivotal offseason after an early playoff exit, and while they're not actively shopping Patrik Laine, the $34.8 million forward could be on the move—if the right call comes in.
According to Sportsnet's Eric Engels, the Canadiens are 'open to offers' for Laine, who's entering the final year of his four-year contract with an $8.7 million cap hit.
Canadiens open to trading Patrik Laine amid cap crunch
'If the phone rang and somebody wanted to take on the last year of Patrik Laine's deal, I don't think the Canadiens would necessarily hesitate to ship it out,' Engels shared on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. That statement has sparked speculation about whether the Finnish sniper's stint in Montreal could be shorter than expected.
Laine, 27, was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets last summer and posted 20 goals and 33 points in just 52 regular-season games. His campaign, however, was plagued by injuries, and his postseason ended abruptly after he broke his finger in the first round against the Washington Capitals.
Despite his talent and scoring ability, Laine's inconsistency and health issues have led to some uncertainty about his long-term value in Montreal's forward corps.
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'I don't think they're necessarily ripping their hair out to find ways to get him out of Montreal over this last year,' Engels clarified. 'There's still an opportunity for him to prove to be a valuable piece.'
Cap space pressures and
Kent Hughes
' aggressive offseason strategy
With just over $6 million in cap space, GM Kent Hughes is exploring all avenues to improve the team's depth. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun noted that Hughes is 'leaving no stone unturned in surveying the forward market.'
That includes weighing the financial flexibility trading Laine could bring.
Though not in panic mode, the Canadiens are clearly in evaluation territory. If a contender with cap space sees value in Laine's high-upside scoring touch, Montreal may seize the opportunity to shed salary while strengthening their rebuild.
Also Read:
NHL trade rumors: Fans accuse Vancouver of betrayal as Elias Pettersson trade buzz intensifies
Whether Laine finishes his contract in Montreal or gets moved before the season begins, the Canadiens are walking a tightrope—balancing talent retention with financial pragmatism in a crucial summer for the franchise's future.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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