HIGHLIGHTS
- The Montreal Canadiens acquired Patrik Laine from Columbus in a blockbuster trade
- Laine, a former 40-goal scorer, should benefit from the change of scenery in Montreal
- See the full Laine trade details, plus analysis and trade grades below
The Montreal Canadiens have landed former top prospect Patrik Laine.
On Monday, the Habs acquired forward Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round draft pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris.
The Canadiens have traded defenseman Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Patrik Laine and a second-round pick in 2026
News release ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/EEuIsLb32E
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) August 19, 2024
Laine had recently been very vocal about his desire for a trade out of Columbus. The Blue Jackets granted his wish by sending the Finnish sniper back to Canada.
Originally drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Draft, the 26-year-old Laine played parts of five seasons with the Jets before being traded to Columbus in January 2021.
Last season was a challenging one for Laine. He played just 18 games, recording six goals and three assists before suffering a broken clavicle in December.
In late January, Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program to prioritize his mental health. He was cleared to return in late July.
Over his eight NHL seasons, Laine has tallied an impressive 204 goals and 184 assists for 388 points in 480 career games.
Laine Career Stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg | 305 | 138 | 109 | 247 | 114 |
| Columbus | 175 | 66 | 75 | 141 | 71 |
| Total | 480 | 204 | 184 | 388 | 185 |
Laine Trade Analysis
At first glance, this trade appears to be a steal for the Habs. Laine, a former 40-goal scorer and second-overall draft pick, could benefit greatly from a change of scenery to reignite his career.
Montreal also boasts promising young forwards like Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki who could complement Laine’s style of play well. The absence of elite linemates in Columbus likely hindered Laine’s production. Not to mention, Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis is an elite motivator.
However, it’s important to note that the Canadiens have finished last in the Atlantic Division for three consecutive years and still seem to be a few pieces away from seriously contending for a playoff spot.
Laine alone isn’t the singular solution to transform the team into a contender overnight. Columbus didn’t even sniff the postseason during Laine’s tenure with the Blue Jackets.
From Columbus’ perspective, they part ways with a player who clearly no longer wanted to be there. In return, they acquire a solid young defenseman in Harris, who tallied three goals and 11 assists in 56 games for Montreal last season. This trade aligns with the Blue Jackets’ ongoing rebuild process.
While we’d call Montreal the winners of the trade, the Jackets don’t come out as massive losers. They shed Laine’s contract without retaining salary and gain a valuable defensive depth piece in Harris.
Laine’s Contract: Expensive But Short
Laine’s contract carries an $8.7 million AAV for two more years, which is quite pricey given his recent performance issues. The silver lining is that the contract is only for two more seasons, helping to mitigate the long-term risk.
Even if Laine doesn’t pan out as hoped, the Canadiens likely won’t regret the trade since they aren’t committed to him long-term. As one of the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL in 2023-24, the Habs desperately need additional scorers who can consistently find the back of the net.
Although there is risk in bringing on a player with consistency issues and a hefty contract, the Habs don’t give up a major asset in return. Harris looked like the odd-man out on Montreal’s blueline. The 24-year-old will benefit from a change of scenery almost as much as Laine.
