MONTREAL — The NHL trade deadline may have passed with a whimper for the Montreal Canadiens, but behind closed doors, GM Kent Hughes was hunting for a blockbuster. According to league insider Elliotte Friedman, the Canadiens engaged in serious discussions regarding forward Patrik Laine, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers emerging as the primary suitors.
«They definitely explored moving money,» Friedman noted on a recent broadcast. «There were discussions about Patrik Laine ending up either in Philadelphia or Toronto, but it obviously didn’t work out.»
The $8.7 Million «Hot Potato»
The primary obstacle in offloading Laine remains his massive $8.7 million contract, set to expire this summer. At 27 years old, the Finnish sniper—who once terrorized the league with 44-goal seasons—has become a «hot potato» for head coach Martin St-Louis. Laine’s 2025-26 campaign has been a nightmare; in just 5 games, he has recorded a lone assist, zero goals, and a worrying -3 rating.
Exiled from the Lineup
The writing on the wall became even clearer ahead of tonight’s crucial divisional matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite injuries to key forwards Kirby Dach and Josh Anderson, St-Louis has once again opted to leave Laine out of the lineup. It appears the coaching staff has pivoted toward a «team-first» execution strategy as the Habs (37-20-10) fight to climb the Atlantic Division standings.
Cap Constraints and the Road Ahead
Hughes reportedly explored every avenue to free up cap space, including discussions with Philadelphia that potentially involved defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. However, the financial complexity of the deals proved insurmountable. Now, the Canadiens must navigate a delicate situation: ensuring that a benched, high-profile star like Laine does not become a distraction in the locker room as the team prepares for what they hope will be a deep playoff run this spring.