RUMOR: Patrik Laine with his good friends in Carolina

The Montreal Canadiens' management is looking to trade Patrik Laine. It's the worst-kept secret in town.

We thought there was a chance it would happen before the trade freeze, but in the end, it didn't. So the situation is dragging on a bit.

Marco D'Amico reported that the chances of him being traded before the February 26 game, the Habs' first after the break, were good.

But where?

In the same article (Rating), we also learn that the Hurricanes are not to be ruled out too quickly, as they are still looking for reinforcements. Why?

The Hurricanes have room under the cap and employ two of his best friends—Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers. – Marco D'Amico

We can all agree that it's surprising to see a team like Carolina in this situation. Does the club believe that the power of friendship could revive Laine?

Who knows.

The Hurricanes are among the elite in the East in terms of goals allowed (163, third in the conference) and goals scored (197, third in the conference) this season.

So they don't absolutely need Laine to score more. And they certainly don't need his porous defense.

We imagine that if the Hurricanes are really interested, they would want to make Laine a PP specialist. And if they were to receive a sweetener from theCanadiens to take Laine, they could trade that element for depth on March 6.

But let's just say that seeing Laine in Carolina would be special.

Overtime

– Worth reading.

– Interesting.

David Pagnotta: Re Canadiens: Every indication I've been given is Kent Hughes is totally fine with just being like look we like this team; they're comfortable with this roster; but it seems like the immediate want…it's that right side on that first line – The Sheet (2/6)

— NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumorReport) February 9, 2026

– Four years already.

THIS DATE IN #HABS HISTORY
Feb. 9, 2022: Dominique Ducharme was fired as head coach with the team sitting in last place in the NHL standings with an 8-30-7 record. He was replaced by Martin St. Louis. Here's the column I wrote the day after St. Louis met with the media: https://t.co/2xfiLUB7MZ

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) February 9, 2026

– That got people talking.

Now that the Super Bowl is over, we can say it: it's time for baseball. https://t.co/7uxauctMrY

— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) February 9, 2026

– Same here.

If the NFL can do a Spanish-only Super Bowl halftime show

Then surely the CFL can do a unilingual French halftime show at the next Grey Cup

Right?

RIGHT?

— Elias Makos (@eliasmakos) February 9, 2026

– Nice.

This weekend Zach @Fucale31 was on a mission to score a goal.#KHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/QfVIzPFKsK

— KHL (@khl_eng) February 8, 2026