The Columbus Blue Jackets have hit a breaking point where general manager Jarmo Kekalainen will now listen to trade offers for Patrik Laine and Ivan Provorov, per Darren Dreger. In the summer of 2022, Laine signed a four-year, $8.7 million AAV deal with the Blue Jackets. It seems as if he enjoys less spotlight and is better suited for the wing over center.
Laine is in the second year of his deal and has a 10-team no-trade list. It’s anybody’s guess which teams are on that list, but I will make an educated guess and say the Winnipeg Jets are one of them. That being said, we are going to look at three teams who should show interest as they all have enough cap space, are looking to the future, and could use some scoring from the wing to help them reach new heights.
Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes made a lot of moves this past summer in acquiring players to help the team finally compete. That has happened as they are just four points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand. This team is very much still in the race past the halfway point in the season. One big thing the team should be looking for is scoring help as they are 20th in the league in goals per game at 2.98.
The Coyotes have the future down the middle seemingly locked up with Logan Cooley, Conor Geekie, and Barrett Hayton, so a winger is a better option in a trade. The team is also very young, so Laine, being 25 years old, would fit right in. There are injury concerns, but he has proven that he can be a game-changer when he’s hot. The Coyotes can win games defensively when he’s not on as well and have the cap space to pull off a move. He could be the piece and the extra bit of goals to boost this team into a playoff spot this season or within the next couple.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks had over half of their roster in cap space on the IR at one time and are still struggling with many injuries. They have added players through waivers and made trades as well for extra help. There’s no changing their fortunes this season as the organization is fine with them being at the bottom of the standings and getting another elite player from the draft. This acquisition is looking to the future and surrounding Connor Bedard and whoever else they may draft in 2024 with good players.
The Blackhawks brought in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, and Anthony Beauvillier for that reason, but they need more. Laine’s injury problems don’t mesh well with what Chicago currently has going on, but his shooting ability can’t be questioned and would be utilized in the top-six of the Blackhawks. There is more than enough cap space and acquiring Laine this season won’t pull the team out of the depths of the league. This is a longer-term plan and would bring in another high pick who dealt with the spotlight.
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks may be pretty bad this season, but the recipe for success is right there. The young players are breaking in and making a major impact. The team is covered down the middle, so once again, a winger is what is needed. There is ample amount of cap space to take on Laine’s full contract, and seeing how the team signed Alex Killorn and Radko Gudas this past summer, they don’t exactly want to sit around and continue to lose games.
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Seeing as Adam Henrique, Jakob Silfverberg, and even Frank Vatrano are likely gone this season or next, there will be spots that need filling. Anaheim is another destination with less spotlight on Laine if he goes there and the team will have to add cap somehow this season or in the offseason. I can see the Ducks in playoff contention by the time Laine’s contract is up, which would be the plan.
