Patrik Laine is starting to appear in the NHL trade rumors mill once again. He has been out of action because of an oblique injury and the passing of his father. Laine had been playing well prior to his injury back in November.
Luke Fox of Sportsnet predicts Laine will be traded either at the 2022 NHL trade deadline or in the offseason. Laine is a restricted free agent and will be looking to cash in on a long-term deal.
Fox went on to say, GM Jarmo Kekäläinen cannot run the risk of inking Laine, 23 to another one-year deal and effectively walking an elite talent to unrestricted free agency shortly after he turns 25.
The Blue Jackets are looking to rebuild and it is doubtful Laine will want to commit to a rebuilding team. If the right offer, with the right amount of assets Columbus is looking for, Laine will be traded at the NHL trade deadline. If not, he will be an offseason deal when teams will know the salary cap space they have and can take on the new contract Laine will receive.
This past offseason NHL rumors were floating around that Laine was available for a trade and the reported teams that had interest in a Laine trade were the Los Angeles Kings, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers.
Could the same teams mentioned above revisit a Laine trade?
