Here’s how the habs can play Patrik Laine without activating his salary

Félix Forget
Here’s how the habs can play Patrik Laine without activating his salary
Credit: Getty Images

The rumor mill has been churning for some time now that Patrik Laine is in his final days in Montreal. We know that the Habs, who could benefit from a bit of salary flexibility, don't really have room for Laine in their line-up anymore.

So it makes sense that the $8.7-million-per-year man is seen as a guy who could leave, you know.

The problem is that, at the moment, you'd think the other teams would be afraid, given that Laine hasn't played in a while. So they don't know what kind of shape he's in… and the Habs, with 23 players on their active roster (and close to the salary cap), can't really activate the Finn.

However, as Nicolas Cloutier explained in a text for TVA Sports, there is a way for the Habs to play Laine without activating his salary: there's a clause in the collective agreement that allows a player on the long-term injured list to go on a brief conditioning stint in the AHL.

We're talking about a stay of three games and six days… and it has to be approved by the player.

We know that earlier this season, Samuel Montembeault passed through Laval for a conditioning stint. That said, the difference is that he was on the active roster at the time, so his salary counted against the club's cap. He was also counted on the number of active players in the NHL.

As things stand, the Habs can't really do that with Laine. However, this provision would still allow them to send Laine to play a few games in Laval without having to deal with accounting problems.

And at the same time, the Finn could reassure certain clubs considering acquiring him.

In practice, this provision is rarely used. But in the case of Laine (who would benefit from being traded if he wants to shop around for a contract next summer), both the player and the club would be well advised to take advantage of it right now.

Let's see if it happens now.


Overtime

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– Big game in Toronto tonight.

– The Panthers want to move quickly.

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