(Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)
Since being traded to the Blue Jackets by the Jets, Patrik Laine hasn’t been quite the same player. The 26-year-old Finn wants a “fresh start” away from Columbus and Dallas could be a team that can make a move.
Laine has been a Stars killer his whole career. In 28 career games against the Stars, Laine has recorded 26 points. Of those 26 points, 19 are goals. After a game against the Stars in December 2019 as a member of the Jets, Laine said “I wish we played 82 games against those guys.”
With Laine wanting a fresh start, Dallas could be a team that can make a trade to acquire Laine. After all, if Dallas doesn’t want to get scored on by Laine anymore, it could make sense to trade for him to score goals for the team and get them over the hump of two consecutive Western Conference Finals losses.
In 480 career games, Laine has recorded 388 points (204G, 184A) in eight seasons in the NHL. The former second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft was traded to the Blue Jackets in the 2020-21 season. Since the trade, Laine hasn’t been the same.
Laine hasn’t played a full season in three full seasons with the Blue Jackets. Out of a possible 246 games, Laine has missed 117 games. In January 2024, Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Laine played in just 18 games for the Blue Jackets last season and recorded 9 points.
Laine has two years remaining on his contract at $8.7 million per season. The Blue Jackets’ future looks uncertain after missing the Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The team could look to move on from Laine.
Dallas could look to add another goal scorer to its team this Summer. Laine’s career-high in goals for a season is 44 back in the 2017-18 season. After the 56-game shortened season, Laine scored 48 goals in 111 games in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons while missing 53 games over those two seasons.
If Laine was on Dallas roster, the team could get a boost in goal scoring. With Matt Duchene a free agent, it’s uncertain if Dallas will bring him back. Even if Dallas doesn’t bring back Duchene, Laine can give Dallas help for goal scoring.
What could a potential trade look like if Laine desperately wants to leave Columbus?
DAL receives- Laine
CBJ receives- Radek Faksa, Ty Dellandrea, 2025 third and fifth round picks
Faksa has one year left on his contract and Dellandrea, who is a restricted free agent who could be re-signed for depth when free agency starts, is a former 2018 Stars first-round pick. Columbus asking for a first-round pick for Laine might be too high. Columbus could accept draft picks in the third and fifth round if they desperately want to trade Laine.
A Laine trade might be very likely this Summer. The Stars will be a busy team this Summer to add and keep pieces to their roster to make another push for the Stanley Cup. Laine can potentially be a player to give the team a push.
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