Could the Canadiens trade for Patrik Laine?

Welcome to another edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL Rumors! The dog days of the NHL offseason are here. Most teams have gotten all their signings done. Outside of a couple of prominent RFAs, the rumors mill is quiet. But with Patrik Laine coming out of the NHL-NHLPA player assistance program, that does not mean those rumors have cooled, especially those tying him to the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens have been an active team recently, giving new contracts to Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, and Justin Barron. On Day 1 of free agency, the Canadiens extended Juraj Slafkovsky for eight more years. However, President Jeff Gorton and General Manager Kent Hughes may not be done utilizing the cap space they will have once Carey Price goes on LTIR (long-term injured reserve) at the beginning of the season.

There is talk the Canadiens want to add another top-six forward, and the name that remains connected to Montreal is Laine. Montreal was interested in his services, but nobody knew when Laine would come out of the player assistance program. With Laine out, the rumors continue to ramp up.

Could the Canadiens land Laine?

Even before he came out of the player assistance program, the Canadiens were a team linked to Laine. However, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, new Columbus General Manager Don Waddell wants to make a hockey trade for him. The key will be if a team that acquires Laine can take on the full salary cap hit of $8.7M.

On Day 1 of free agency, Hughes wanted to add a top-six forward. He tried to bring Jonathan Marchessault to Montreal; however, Hughes did not want to go past three years on a contract for Marchessault. Dating back to last season, the Canadiens wanted to acquire a top-six forward.

Does it make sense for Montreal to acquire Laine? Sure it does. The Canadiens averaged 2.83 goals per game last season, the lowest in the NHL. Bringing in Laine will only raise that average. Not to mention, Laine’s age fits Montreal’s core.

While everyone will look at the cap hit of $8.7M, he only has two years left on the deal. With the regression in his game, the cap hit is a concern. However, it should not be that much of a problem, mainly if her produces 20-25 goals over an 82-game regular season.

Montreal has the draft capital to make the trade work, too. According to PuckPedia.com, the Canadiens have two or more picks in the first four rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft. But again, the Blue Jackets are not looking for prospects and draft picks. Columbus will want a rostered player in return.

While Waddell wants to eliminate the $8.7M cap hit, he will most likely have to take some money on it. Could that mean a player like Josh Anderson could take the other way? Anderson makes $5.5M over the next three seasons. With the Canadiens signing their young defenseman, could they also move Mike Matheson in the deal? Giving up a veteran with so many young guys still in the lineup would be tough.

Then there is the Martin St. Louis factor. We have seen what St. Louis has done as the Canadiens coach. He has made Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Guhle and Slakfovsky better players. The jury is still out on Kirby Dach. But imagine what St. Louis could do with Laine in the lineup.

So if things don’t work out, they don’t bring him back after two years. And if things work out for Montreal, the Canadiens added a pure goal scorer to their lineup who could give them assets.

Adding a 40-goal scorer to any team is a risk, but for Montreal, adding Laine is a risk worth taking.