The Patrik Laine era in Montreal has officially hit rock bottom. Despite an desperate, all-out effort by General Manager Kent Hughes to offload the Finnish forward before the Olympic roster freeze, the Montreal Canadiens were met with total radio silence from the rest of the league. In a humiliating turn of events for a former 40-goal scorer, reports reveal that Montreal was willing to retain 50% of Laine’s massive salary and even «attach an asset» just to get him out of the locker room—and still, nobody wanted him.
A total collapse in market value
According to NHL insider Nick Kypreos, the Canadiens’ management tried every trick in the book to turn the page on the Laine experiment. «Montreal is looking to move out his money and might be willing to spend an asset to do that,» Kypreos noted. When a team is prepared to pay another franchise to take a player while eating half his contract, it signifies a catastrophic loss in value. The fact that all 31 other teams passed on a half-price Laine is a «slap in the face» that highlights how toxic his current contract and performance levels are perceived across the league.
Olympic break offers no escape for Hughes
The failed trade attempts leave a dark cloud hanging over the Canadiens’ locker room as the league heads into the Olympic break. Hughes’ rebuilding plan has hit a significant snag; the «quick reset» fans were promised is now on ice until the international tournament concludes. For now, the Habs are stuck with the distraction of No. 92 and his heavy cap hit, leaving the front office to wonder if they will be forced to ride out this contract until it expires at the end of the season.