The Blue Jackets have had a huge offseason so far, with the signings of Johnny Gaudreau and Erik Gudbranson drawing particular attention. Now that free agency has settled, the focus in Columbus has shifted to the situation with restricted free agent winger Patrik Laine. The 24-year-old forward is two years away from unrestricted free agency and has the option to file for arbitration, take two (likely expensive) arbitration awards, and then hit free agency in 2024.
Columbus has a history of talented forwards leaving in free agency (Artemi Panarin sticks out as a recent example) so it makes sense that the Columbus market would be watching the Laine situation intensely with the hope that history doesn’t repeat itself. In this case, Blue Jackets fans have reason to exhale. Laine and his representatives, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, will not be filing for arbitration before the 5 pm deadline today.
That’s major news, as it’s a confirmation that both the Blue Jackets and Laine are earnestly committed to finding a contract solution that keeps Laine in Columbus long-term. Laine has played 101 games as a Blue Jacket and has an impressive 36 goals and 77 points, including 26 goals and 56 points in just 56 games in 2021-22. Laine has one of the best shots in hockey and has terrorized goaltenders ever since he made his debut as a rookie in Winnipeg.
Before the arrival of Gaudreau, Laine was one of the few stars on the Blue Jackets’ roster, perhaps the only other elite talent on the team besides defenseman Zach Werenski. With Gaudreau in the fold now, though, Laine has the opportunity to join an exciting team in Columbus that has the potential to be the most offensively gifted lineup in team history. Portzline states that negotiations between Laine’s agent, Andy Scott, and the team remain “amicable,” and it seems that Laine does have an interest in being part of that high-potential future in Columbus.
Nothing is a guarantee in the NHL, and negotiations can always go sideways. But avoiding arbitration is an important first step towards getting Laine locked-up long-term in Columbus. The deal he gets isn’t likely to rise higher than the $9.75MM AAV Gaudreau is earning, but a modest raise from Laine’s current $7.5MM cap hit would not be unreasonable.
The Blue Jackets don’t actually have a ton of cap room to get a Laine extension done, oddly enough, as CapFriendly projects the team to have $2.3MM in current cap space, which definitely would make any Laine extension a very tight squeeze. Columbus may need to move a contract in order to have enough room to get Laine’s deal done, and the contracts of Gustav Nyquist and Jakub Voracek could be their best options to move in order to get that space. With that being said, though, in today’s cap-strapped world, clearing space is as difficult and pricey as it’s ever been.
I don’t see Laine leaving. Columbus needs to move out Nyquist before they can re-sign him but that shouldn’t be too difficult considering they only have 1-year left on his deal. Package him with Foudy and I’m sure teams like Arizona, Seattle and Anaheim would be willing to do it. They’ve got cap space to boot and are looking for assets.
Foudy is a bust. lol
Sssshhhhhhh…..maybe those other teams don’t know yet.
That Dubois for laine and Roz trade is looking worse with each passing day for the Peg.
Why?
Dubois is still the best player in the deal and Laine wanted out of WPG before he did, so they are still even on that score.
No one wanting to stay in the tundra is the problem.
it’s debatable if Dubois is even the best player in the deal, but with Roz busting out this season, and Dubois now wanting out, it’s a clear win for Columbus
Depends on what WPG can move Dubois for, although…he has probably tanked his value.
Montreal doesn’t have to overpay for him if they want, just wait.
And anyone but Montreal is unlikely to pony up if he’s going to walk.
So, they could still pull a rabbit out of a hat with a good trade, but…unlikely because he’s a drip.
This is why teams interview draft picks.
PLD with 0.66 ppg and 28 gls/season max and his constant whining is better than Laine? Ye you nuts bro. I’m waiting till he demands 10 mil per for his services from MTL “or else i go to KHL”
I read the interview is why Wright fell to #4. Teams didn’t like his attitude
Buffalo would be willing to take a Jakub Voracek for a 2023 1st (non top 10 protected), 2024 2nd & a 2025 2nd.
If signing Patrick Laine long term is that important to you.
think they’d get Arizona to take him for less than that.
I think Dubois wants to play in Montreal. Winnipeg should move him and his attitude. Laine is another one dimensional player he can score along with Johnny Hockey; the Blue Jackets will have a potent offence but the team lacks balance on both the offensive and defensive game and neutralize those two and what do they have?
I will give Winnipeg another season to get they’re act together; if the same results emerge I think Management will need to start moving pieces out not necessarily a rebuild but some serious tweaking to get this talented team focused and Back on track.
you think he wants to play in Montreal? his agent came out and said it.
as for the jets, i think if they get the same results this year, that thing is being blown up. too many decent assets (schef, wheeler, CH, Melo, schmidt) that could net some returns.