Patrik Laine: “We expect him to be traded before February 26.”

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Patrik Laine: “We expect him to be traded before February 26.”
Credit: Getty Images

Patrik Laine was not traded before the NHL trade deadline.

In the short term, it doesn't matter: the Canadiens won't play again until February 26, which is 19 days away. The club is on a complete break until February 17, when the next practice is scheduled.

So there's no rush in the short term.

But soon, when the games are about to start again, the Canadiens' hot potato will no longer be easy to hide, let's face it.

If Kent Hughes wants to make a move, he'll have between February 23 (the freeze ends at 11:59 p.m. on the 22nd) and March 6 (the trade deadline) to get what he wants.

And according to the rumors, the Habs' GM should be able to do it.

Marco D'Amico (Rating) wrote in an article that the rumor was that the Canadiens would be able to trade their Finnish winger before their next game.It's not impossible when you consider that, yes, there is interest in him…

Eric Engels (Sportsnet) agrees.

In fact, the difference between trading him before the freeze or before the first game after the break is simple: his new club will have less money to pay him.

This could even have a positive impact on the Canadiens in the playoffs.

What's the point for a club to pick him up three weeks before his first game? The other teams might as well let Geoff Molson pay him 100% for most of February.

Would you be surprised, under the circumstances, to learn that Kent Hughes already has a good idea of Laine's next destination and is just waiting for NHL games to resume so he can trade him at his price?

I wouldn't be surprised either.


Overtime

– Must read.

– Interesting.

– Imagine a pass like that to Cole Caufield…

– Depth in the Bronx.

– Classic.

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