Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine reportedly turned down a trade to a Western Conference team this summer.
After several months of speculation, Laine was eventually traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Canadiens, along with a 2026 second-round pick, in exchange for young defenseman Jordan Harris.
Laine had struggled with the Blue Jackets and was looking for a new opportunity. While the Canadiens were successful in acquiring him, they were not the only team interested.
In a recent conversation with La Velle E. Neal III of The Minnesota Star Tribune, Wild General Manager Bill Guerin revealed that the Wild were also in talks to acquire Laine. However, Guerin noted that Laine was not interested in joining Minnesota, suggesting that the Wild might have been on Laine’s no-trade list.
Guerin mentioned that he had made progress on a potential deal but ultimately could not finalize it. When asked if Laine wanted to come to Minnesota, Guerin’s response was a firm “No,” indicating that Laine likely had the Wild on his no-trade list.
Adding Laine to a team already featuring young stars like Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov could have significantly bolstered the Wild. However, Laine opted to waive his no-trade clause for a move to the Canadiens, who are expected to be a team to watch in the near future.
Now that the trade is complete, Laine is focused on preparing for the 2024-25 season with the Canadiens and has already begun practicing with his new teammates at Montreal’s facility.
Patrik Laine’s shot just looks so effortless 😎 pic.twitter.com/5mGtGrtMvE
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) September 6, 2024
Montreal’s top-six forward group has the potential to make a significant impact this season, and the team as a whole is looking to advance in its rebuild. Although a Stanley Cup Playoff berth might be unlikely this year, a successful season for the Canadiens would involve staying competitive and contending for a wild card spot, with meaningful games extending into March.
