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Patrik Laine was traded to the Montreal Canadiens by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
The Blue Jackets also sent a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Canadiens, and received defenseman Jordan Harris.
Laine played his final game for the Blue Jackets on Dec. 14 because of a broken clavicle, and then began receiving care from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Jan. 28. He was cleared from the program July 26.
The 26-year-old had requested a trade from the Blue Jackets, and Columbus general manager Don Waddell said Monday an equitable deal for all involved was a prerequisite for any trade.
“We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him,” Waddell said. “We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best.”
Waddell, hired as Columbus GM on May 28 after holding the same position with the Carolina Hurricanes for the previous six years, told The Hockey Writers on Aug. 15 that he had given Laine and his agent permission to speak with teams about potential trades.
“He’s made it clear that he wants a fresh start someplace else,” Waddell said. “And I’ve had this situation before, probably not at this level, this type of player. And I’ve told his representation that we will definitely look at every deal and I’ve given him full permission to talk to teams. So I’ve been where I’ve had players that wanted to be traded before, and just because a player wants to traded, two things have to happen. You have to have a willing partner and you also have to have a deal that we both can accept and agree on.”
Laine had nine points (six goals, three assists) in 18 games last season, and has two seasons remaining on the four-year, $34.8 million contract ($8.7 million average annual value) he signed July 22, 2022.
The Canadiens confirmed that no salary had been retained in the trade.
In four seasons with the Blue Jackets, Laine had 138 points (64 goals, 74 assists) in 174 games, including two 20-goal seasons.
Selected by the Winnipeg Jets with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Laine began his NHL career with four straight seasons of at least 28 goals, including 44 for the Jets in 2017-18. He has 388 points (204 goals, 184 assists) in 480 games with the Blue Jackets and Jets, and 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Harris had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) and averaged 17:28 of ice time in 56 games with the Canadiens last season.
The 24-year-old was selected in the third round (No. 71) of the 2018 NHL Draft and has 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 131 games.
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