Pierre LeBrun reports during TSN Trade Center on Monday that there’s potential that the Columbus Blue Jackets could listen to trade offers on Patrik Laine ahead of Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline. LeBrun talked about how disappointing the season has been for the Blue Jackets and that they are selling off pieces seems to indicate that they are open for business on just about anyone.
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Laine has only 8 goals for the Blue Jackets since being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets. That said, this may not be the best time to drop Laine. “Because he’s had a disappointing season, it’s not a good time to seriously gauge in trade talks on Patrik Laine, “LeBrun said. He adds, “You don’t want to buy high and sell low on a player of this magnitude. Certainly a situation I would say worth keeping an eye on in the offseason, depending on how the season wraps up here.”
In the end, unless a team comes in a knocks GM Jarmo Kekalianen’s socks off with a trade, the Blue Jackets will listen, but likely wait until the end of the season to make a decision on Laine.
Keeping in mind that Laine is going to be looking for an extension as a pending RFA, his ask might be much higher than the team is willing to pay. That could make things interesting as well. Depending on when the Blue Jackets believe they can get the better return, is when they may decide to seriously look at moving him. The one thing the Blue Jackets don’t want to do is get next-to nothing for him after moving Pierre-Luc Dubois to land Laine.
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