The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded forward Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Jordan Harris.
Laine has two years left at $8.7 million, with Harris making $1.4 million and an RFA after the season.
Puck Pedia: The Canadiens added $7.3 million net cap hit, and are actually projected to be $1.1 million over the cap with a 22-man roster – 14 forwards, six defensemen, two goalies and the injured Carey Price.
They’ll send players to the minors after which put Carey Price and his $10.5 million on the LTIR.
Aaron Portzline: Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell: “We would like players that wish to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him. We were in a position to acquire an excellent young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility, which was very necessary to us.”
Thoughts from the media
Renaud Lavoie: “The indisputable fact that Jordan Harris is an element of that trade is just not a surprise. He was on trading block for some time now with all of the left handed D with the Habs.”
Eric Macramalla: “Love the Canadiens acquiring Patrick Laine. They get the scoring they so desperately need and Laine lands in an ideal spot where he shall be supported. Win win.”
Arpon Basu: “Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Laine, Anderson, Gallagher, Armia, Evans: all right shots.”
Charlie O’Connor: “I just like the move for Montreal, and if Laine doesn’t work on the market, they picked up a second round pick too, which lowers the potential downside. That said, I do think Laine at that cap hit comes with real risk, and Harris is a good enough defenseman.”
Anthony Di Marco: “Speaking with some executives, most important take away from MTL/CBJ deal is risk on Laine at full AAV is dangerous but Habs are in a financial position that provides them the freedom to achieve this. When you’re CBJ, you had no alternative but to maneuver on from Laine; moving him at full value is a win.”
Eric Engels: “Talks with Laine and his agent obviously proved reassuring to the Canadiens. They were certainly one of the one teams that might tackle the cap hit, and doing so got here at a price to Columbus (2nd round pick). Yes, Jordan Harris going the opposite way, but he moves from a position of excess.”
Arpon Basu: “If the Canadiens were going so as to add offensive firepower this summer, you couldn’t really provide you with a greater term for that contract than two years. There may be some risk in acquiring Patrik Laine, however the term is ideal for Montreal.”
Night Cap Recap
Patrik Laine Traded to Montreal #cbj #gohabsgo #nhl pic.twitter.com/5p89asMa32
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) August 19, 2024
Patrik Laine projects to be a borderline top line scorer in an even bigger role. But coming in $2M wanting his cap hit for the subsequent two seasons helps explain why Columbus needed to connect a second round pick to dump him. pic.twitter.com/bKImLO5x6B
— dom (@domluszczyszyn) August 19, 2024
Patrik Laine’s stats through his first 8 seasons ⬇️. Can he find his scoring touch with #GoHabsGo?
via @hockey_ref pic.twitter.com/uEki3AfJLC
— BarDown Mafia (@BarDownMafia) August 19, 2024
