Patrik Laine set to pursue a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets

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Tom Banks
June 12, 2024 (11:32 PM)

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have failed to take a step forward since acquiring Patrik Laine, and now the star winger seemingly wants out.

Three years ago, the Blue Jackets moved Pierre-Luc Dubois to Winnipeg for star goalscorer Patrik Laine, and after the Jets moved PLD this past summer, it appears the other part of that trade is now doing the same. According to a report from Pierre LeBrun, Laine and his agent are pursuing a trade from the Blue Jackets, with the team open to finding him a new home after a very rough 2023-24 campaign.

Pierre LeBrun says the Blue Jackets and Patrik Laine have a mutual agreement to move on. Laine wants a fresh start.

In 2023-24, Laine played in just 15 games due to injury and mental health struggles, but when healthy, he's proven that he's still an elite goal scorer, with 28 goals in his last 73 games played (the past two full seasons).

Despite acquiring Johnny Gaudreau to pair with Laine, the team just hasn't clicked, and after drafting Adam Fantilli a year ago, they have the chance with another top pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, as well as acquiring future assets for Laine. His value may not be as high as it once was right now, but Laine can still be a solid player in the NHL, and for contending teams out there, he has to be a buy-low project, so expect plenty of interest in the coming weeks and months.