New report connects Patrik Laine to a western conference team
Photo credit: Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers
This afternoon a new report from a source at NHL Network has revealed one of the teams expected to be in the Patrik Laine trade sweepstakes.
Over the 2023-24 NHL season, the situation between Patrik Laine and the Columbus Blue Jackets deteriorated rapidly. After early struggles on the ice Patrik Laine left the team to tend to his mental health via the NHL's Player Assistance Program.
After entering the Player Assistance Program Patrik Laine would end up missing the rest of the season. Once the offseason began it was revealed that the Blue Jackets would allow Patrik Laine to seek a trade as he exited the Player Assistance Program.
Since that announcement from Elliotte Friedman, there has been a ton of building speculation regarding the future of Patrik Laine. Today a new source has revealed that the Minnesota Wild could be a team looking to pursue the exciting winger.
NHL analyst links the Minnesota Wild to Patrik Laine
In a segment on NHL Network former NHL player and current analyst Mike Rupp spoke about the Patrik Laine situation. When looking at teams who could be a good fit Mike Rupp identified the Minnesota Wild.
If there's a team to kick the tires, I think Minnesota (makes sense) because they need that star power, NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp told The Athletic. They need somebody else that can help carry the workload as far as putting up big numbers.
Despite a potential interest from the Minnesota Wild things are a bit more complicated than that. The Wild currently do not have the salary cap to fit in Patrik Laine's $8.7 million he also doesn't particularly fit well with the Wild style of play.
The problem I have with Laine is it depends on what kind of team you are. Everything that Minnesota has established themselves to be as far as their identity, working hard and lunch pail, he's not that. The thing that's kept Minnesota competitive is everybody's kind of pulling the same way and there's no freelancers. I think he would be a freelancer. It could work, but it could be really bad, too.
A trade involving Patrik Laine will all come down to what the Blue Jackets want in return and what they're willing to retain. Any team trading for Patrik Laine will need the Blue Jackets to retain money. At his best, Patrik Laine is a 40-goal and 70-point player mostly during his time with the Winnipeg Jets.
If a team believes they can get that version of Patrik Laine back a trade could be well worth it. If that version of Patrik Laine is not coming back then trading for him and taking on salary might not be worth the gamble.
Source: TSN
Report: Wild could have interest in F Laine
Report: Wild could have interest in F Laine
Source: HockeyDB
Patrik Laine Stats
Patrik Laine Stats
| POLL | ||
11 AOUT | 83 ANSWERS New report connects Patrik Laine to a western conference team Do you think the Minnesota Wild should trade for Patrik Laine? | ||
| Yes | 34 | 41 % |
| No | 49 | 59 % |
| List of polls | ||
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