Contender reportedly withdraw from the Patrik Laine trade sweepstakes
Patrik Laine has officially been cleared to return from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, along with his agent, are now working on a trade to give the Finnish forward a fresh start.
Laine has been rumored to be linked with several teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Minnesota Wild, Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, recent reports suggest that some of the leading contenders may have decided to pull out of the Laine sweepstakes.
First, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reported that the Canadiens have only minimal interest in Laine. Speaking on «The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro,» Engels explained that the rumors linking Laine to the Habs made him laugh:
Additionally, many believe that Laine, who has a 10-team no-trade list on his contract with two years left at an $8.7-million cap hit, might not want to face the intense pressure of living in Montreal after exiting the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, where he sought help for his mental health.
As for the Capitals, insider Sammi Silber of The Hockey News stated that a Laine trade doesn't make sense for Washington, as the team has limited cap space to accommodate the star forward's AAV.
Currently, the Hurricanes appear to be the front-runners to acquire Laine. Last week, Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell inadvertently hinted at a potential trade when he endorsed Eric Tulsky to become the Carolina Hurricanes' general manager.
This slip-up has fueled speculation that Laine could be on the move to Carolina.
| POLL | ||
9 AOUT | 113 ANSWERS Contender reportedly withdraw from the Patrik Laine trade sweepstakes Where do you think Patrik Laine will end up? | ||
| Carolina Hurricanes | 10 | 8.8 % |
| Montreal Canadiens | 18 | 15.9 % |
| Other | 59 | 52.2 % |
| Stays in Columbus | 26 | 23 % |
| List of polls | ||
