Former Winnipeg Jets 2nd overall pick Patrik Laine traded from Columbus to Montreal

There has been plenty of speculation from hockey insiders that Patrik Laine would be heading to Montreal although there were also plenty of fans of other teams, including folks in Winnipeg, that were hoping to see the Finnish sniper wearing their team’s jersey.

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

Courtesy of Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet we learned in a series of tweets today that Laine will be a Hab:

Hearing today there is traction between Columbus and Montreal on a Patrik Laine trade.

Patrik Laine is a Montreal Canadien

There is no retention in this deal. Laine and a second to Montreal for Jordan Harris.

Good move for the Habs who will look to get Laine back on track this season while the Blue Jackets get out from under his contract (four more years at a cap hit of 8.7 million). Laine was limited to 18 games (6G 3A) during the 2023-24 season dealing with both a broken clavicle in December followed by his checking himself into the NHL/NHLPA’s player-assistance program.

Laine’s most productive campaigns in the NHL were in Winnipeg where he scored 36 goals in his rookie season (2017-18) and followed that up with 44. His “worst” season of the four he spent in the ‘Peg he still scored 28 goals in 68 games. In the four years since he left for Columbus his most productive goal scoring year was 2021-22 when he had 26 goals in 56 games.

Jets fans will get to see Laine with the Canadiens in Winnipeg on December 14th and in Montreal on January 28th.