Patrik Laine reportedly rejected two teams before accepting a trade to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens fans have reason to celebrate, as Patrik Laine has chosen their team over the Minnesota Wild and the Philadelphia Flyers.
After months of trade speculation, the Columbus Blue Jackets traded Laine to the Canadiens in exchange for young defenseman Jordan Harris and a 2026 second-round pick. Laine had struggled with the Blue Jackets, and a fresh start was needed. Montreal wasn't the only team interested, though.
Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin recently revealed that the Wild had also pursued Laine. However, Laine, 26, declined the trade, possibly because Minnesota was on his no-trade list, as suggested by La Velle E. Neal III of The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Had Laine joined the Wild, he would have teamed up with rising stars like Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov, which could have boosted the team under coach John Hynes. However, Laine likely saw more long-term potential with the Canadiens, who are positioned for growth in the coming seasons.
According to Max Truman of BPM Sports Radio in Montreal, there was another potential trade in the works. Patrik Laine reportedly rejected a 1-for-1 deal that would have sent him to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ryan Johansen. Johansen had recently cleared waivers after the Flyers terminated his contract due to a material breach, but the trade ultimately didn't go through.
Now that the trade is complete, Laine can focus on the upcoming 2024-25 season with Montreal. He's already skating with some of his new teammates. While a playoff berth might be a stretch, the Canadiens' top-six forwards have the potential to make an impact and keep the team competitive into March, marking progress in their ongoing rebuild.
Source: Blades of SteelPatrik Laine reportedly rejected a trade to Western Conference team this summer
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