Patrik Laine declined going to Wild before fresh start with Canadiens

After a rough stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Laine was ready for a change of scenery, and it seems Montreal is ready to give him that opportunity. The trade included Laine and a 2026 second-round pick heading to Montreal, with young defenseman Jordan Harris going the other way.

But what's interesting is Laine had other options on the table and turned them down. In a recent interview, Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin mentioned that they were in the mix to snag Laine, but the 26-year-old wasn't interested in heading to the «State of Hockey.»

The word is that Laine likely had the Wild on his no-trade list, which might explain why that deal never materialized.

Adding Laine to a lineup with Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov-it could've been a game-changer for the Wild.

But, it's clear Laine felt Montreal was the better fit for his future and would work well for both him and the Habs. With the Canadiens' top-six looking lethal this season, there's hope that the team can take a solid step forward in their rebuild.

Given their depth deficiencies, the playoffs might be a stretch this year for the Habs.

Yet if they can in the hunt for a wild card spot and keep things competitive into March, that's a successful season. Laine's got the talent, and once he develops chemistry with his new teammates, it'll be a fun show.

Source: Blades of Steel
Patrik Laine reportedly rejected trade to Western Conference team this summer