Columbus Blue Jackets still faced with stumbling blocks in trading Patrik Laine
Don Waddell is willing to play the waiting game with Patrik Laine’s trade request.
The Blue Jackets’ new president of hockey operations/general manager said the trade market for the Finnish forward has softened since Laine’s request became public June 13, two weeks before the NHL draft and four days before former coach Pascal Vincent was fired.
Patrik Laine news: Columbus Blue Jacket forward released from NHL/NHLPA program
Despite Laine’s release Friday from the NHL/NHL Players’ Association’s assistance program, which cleared him to speak with opposing teams, only one team has contacted Waddell with trade interest. Waddell has since made some calls of his own, but he isn’t confident that Laine's ability to speak with opposing GMs will spark a trade quickly.
“At this time of the year, people are less responsive,” Waddell said. “So, I don’t really know. I think it’s going to play out for a while.”
That’s partly because it may take some time for Laine and his agent, Andy Scott, to meet with a team wishing to speak with them about the forward’s situation. It’s also related to opposing teams wanting the Blue Jackets to pick up too large of a percentage in Laine’s remaining salary, which costs $8.7 million against the NHL salary cap for two more seasons.
Under the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement, teams are allowed to eat up to 50% of a player’s contract as trade incentive. That’s $4.35 million for the next two seasons of Laine’s deal, which is a number Waddell has no intention of retaining on the Jackets' cap.
That’s why he’s prepared for an unknown waiting period that could stretch into August or September, when training camp opens. There’s also a chance Laine starts next season with the Blue Jackets while attempting to prove he’s still an impact player. Should his trade value get a boost that way, a more agreeable deal for the Blue Jackets could be easier to complete.
“We might end up eating some money,” Waddell said. “If I wanted to eat half, I could’ve traded him by now, but that’s not my first choice.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Patrik Laine trade market soft, may Blue Jackets' effort to deal
