NHL trade rumors circulated earlier this year on what the Columbus Blue Jackets want to do with Patrik Laine. Will they re-sign him or will he be traded?
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that Columbus has discussed multiple contract terms with Laine, but the bigger challenge will be finding a Blue Jackets salary cap hit both sides can agree on.
“We believe in fair contracts, but the guys have to understand that they want to have a better team around them, too. That’s where there needs to be a little bit of a compromise.”
Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen
It is believed Laine is seeking a salary in the $10 million/year range and the Blue Jackets are more comfortable with a $8 million/year deal. Columbus has just over $21 million remaining in salary cap space.
Laine, 24, was selected second overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Kekalainen had no problem paying Werenski almost 10million and now he is reneging on his statements that Laine would be receiving a heafty raise for a long term contract. 10M is not a lot by today’s standards for all that he will bring to the Blue Jackets. If Kekalainen doesn’t live up to what he says, why has he made false promises. Nobody on the Blue Jackets has the hockey background and years of success Laine has had and the fans he brings. Follower and Fan since Laine was drafted in 2016 with Mathews and Dubois. As the fans have been raving, “Pay Him”.
The dude can snipe, that is about it. No way he gets a $10 million/year contract.