Trade completed between the Bruins and Blue Jackets? Last minute development

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Joshua Deeds
July 17, 2024 (6:36 PM)

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The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, who covers the Columbus Blue Jackets has offered a major update regarding Patrik Laine.

Laine, who is in the NHLPA player's assistance program, hasn't exited the program past his last update on June 30th.

This makes the ability to find a trade partner difficult for the Blue Jackets and GM Don Waddell. Considering there are several teams who would like to speak with Patrik Laine, this makes moving him complex.

Is Don Sweeney calling in on Laine? He could be a great addition to the top-six and the team's power-play, with Pastrnak feeding him and utilizing that slap shot.

However, there's been news regarding the stand-still:

Waddell is still hopeful it's not too late to find a trade partner for Patrik Laine, who asked the club for a change of scenery after a difficult last season in Columbus. Laine is still in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. While the Jackets can trade him while he's still in the program, neither they nor any other club can speak directly to Laine, and Waddell said all interested parties have asked to speak to Laine before putting together a trade package for him. «Teams keep checking in to see if there's anything new,» Waddell said. «I tell them, �You guys have to be comfortable with (Laine), and I can't help you.' I don't know the player personally. I'm not one to try and trick people either, so (we) made him available to chat (when he's cleared).»

The prime time to trade Laine � the NHL Draft and the start of free agency � have both passed, but Waddell remains hopeful. «There really aren't a lot of free agents out there,» he said. «If (teams) have the (salary) cap (space) today, they'll probably still have it tomorrow. I know there are teams that are still interested.»

- Aaron Portzline

Of course, Sweeney would have to clear enough cap to make Laine's 2x $8.7 Million AAV contract fit under their cap.

But in the meantime, we all await the next development in the Laine saga.

Source: Hockey Feed
Major update on Patrik Laine trade negotiations