Columbus Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine released from NHL/NHLPA program
Patrik Laine's request to be traded by the Blue Jackets received a significant boost Friday.
More: Report: Columbus Blue Jackets, Patrik Laine have mutual interest in seeking trade
The Finnish forward was released from the NHL/NHL Players' Association's player assistance program, clearing him to personally speak with coaches, executives and players from around the league for the first time since entering the program Jan. 28 for undisclosed reasons.
Blue Jackets president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell did not comment on Friday's news but told the Dispatch on Tuesday he's confident a trade for Laine can be worked out this summer. A big holdup in trade talks, according to Waddell, was Laine's inability to speak with him or opposing GMs while in the NHL/NHLPA program.
“I’ve had enough calls, so there’s at least some interest," Waddell said. “Obviously, some teams have gone in a different direction with the salary cap and all that, but I’m pretty confident that we’ll be able to make a deal with him before the season.”
Laine, 26, has spent four injury-riddled and frustrating seasons with the Blue Jackets, who acquired him along with forward Jack Roslovic on Jan. 23, 2021 in a trade that sent disgruntled center Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL draft.
This past season, he contributed six goals, three assists and nine points with a -10 plus/minus rating in 18 games, missing time with an early concussion followed by a fractured clavicle prior to his entry into the NHL/NHLPA program.
Less than a month into his tenure with the Blue Jackets, Laine was benched by former coach John Tortorella for an entire third period after he verbally insulted assistant coach Brad Larsen between periods. Larsen replaced Tortorella as head coach after that season, then was fired two years later and replaced by Mike Babcock, who was then replaced by Pascal Vincent due to a player privacy scandal that forced Babcock's resignation three days before last season's training camp.
Laine's agent, Andy Scott, informed Waddell in June that his client wanted a new start somewhere else. Scott has not replied to requests from the Dispatch. Laine has two years left on a contract carrying an $8.7 million annual charge against the NHL salary cap, which may be another stumbling block to getting a suitable deal completed.
The Blue Jackets will likely be required to eat a percentage of the remaining salary. Waddell would be tasked with determining how high the percentage gets. Under the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement, teams are allowed to eat up to 50% of contracts for players they're trading, which counts toward their own payroll for each remaining season.
The biggest hurdle, however, is now cleared. Laine can speak with opposing teams in person, along with Waddell and new coach Dean Evason if they'd like to chat. Scott and Waddell have stayed in close contact since the trade request, so they're on the same page. The possibility of Laine remaining with the Blue Jackets hasn't been entirely ruled out, but the player and team have agreed that a trade is the best scenario.
“We’re going to at least have those conversations," Waddell said of speaking with Laine. "That’s the right thing to do, right? His agent has expressed all along that he thinks he needs a change. There’s no options off the table at this point. ... I’ve got to protect the organization, so you’ve got to make the decision based on what the market is. If there’s a good market, obviously, you’re going to be happy with it. If the market’s soft, then we have to make a decision about what we do.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: CBJ's Patrik Laine cleared from NHL/NHLPA assistance program
