Here’s an unpopular opinion among some Habs fans: Patrik Laine‘s days in Montreal might be numbered. He could finish the season, but don’t be surprised if he’s gone before next fall.
Sure, getting the flu twice and missing games due to it is plausible. But when you see Nick Suzuki‘s ironman streak of six seasons, or Josh Anderson battling through tough injuries while not missing a beat, it raises questions about Laine’s desire to be on the ice.
His comments about ice time prior to the 4-Nations’ games, brushed off by some, were clearly aimed at the coach. And knowing Martin St-Louis‘ character, his response was pointed as well.
Laine’s body language, effort level, and apparent disinterest have become glaring concerns. This is his third team, and for a second-overall pick with elite potential, that’s troubling — especially since questions about his motivation and effort level have followed him everywhere he’s played.
Lack of Support
To be fair, Laine hasn’t had much help in Montreal. Kirby Dach’s return was brief before another season-ending injury, and Alex Newhook is more of a complementary piece than a driver. That’s why, during Juraj Slafkovsky’s struggles and the Canadiens’ cold streak, I suggested putting Laine with Caufield and Suzuki seemed like a worthwhile experiment — a chance to see if he’d sink or swim.
At the trade deadline, knowing Dach was done for the year, GM Kent Hughes opted not to pay the necessary price for a second-line center — a move that might have given Laine a proper playmaker to unlock his scoring touch and truly see what he’s made off.
Was that just about the cost? Or is there more to it, the GM deciding that he had seen enough of Laine?
You can analyze each situation and find reasonable explanations for each and every one of those points, but the bigger picture raises concerns.
After retiring, Mario Tremblay used an expression my grandpa used often: "Le cordon du coeur lui trempe dans la 💩"Whether or not it applies, I'm not going to be the judge of that, but it seems like it's been something that has been a constant no matter where he was and whom the coach was.
— JD Lagrange (@jdlagrange.bsky.social) 2025-03-09T19:03:27.143Z
The Options
After this season, Laine has one year remaining on his contract, carrying an $8.7 million cap hit. Key details include a $2 million signing bonus payable by July 1st and a $7.1 million salary for that final year. His contract also features a modified no-trade clause, allowing him to block deals to 10 teams — meaning 21 teams remain as potential trade partners.
If the Canadiens are looking to move on, there are two realistic options:
1. Trade Option
Trading Laine after July 1st makes financial sense for potential suitors. By then, Montreal will have paid his $2 million bonus, leaving the acquiring team on the hook for $7.1 million in real dollars instead of $9.1 million. With Jeff Petry and Jake Allen’s contracts coming off the books, the Canadiens will regain their three salary retention slots, giving Hughes flexibility to retain part of Laine’s cap hit in a deal.
2. Buyout Option
If a trade doesn’t materialize, the Canadiens could buy out Laine’s contract once the buyout window opens on June 15th. The resulting cap impact would be:
|
SEASON |
INITIAL CAP |
SAVINGS |
BUYOUT CAP |
|
2025-26 |
$8.7M |
$4.733M |
$3.967M |
|
2026-27 |
– |
-$2.367M |
$2.367M |
The Big Picture
As a hunter, I’ve learned that stepping back and seek higher grounds to view the whole landscape, often reveals insights you miss when fixating on individual details.
When I step back and assess Laine’s situation, I see red flags — none alarming on their own, but concerning when pieced together. Perhaps Hughes knows something we don’t. While finding a second-line center may be easier in the offseason, it’s also possible Montreal’s GM has other plans — for Laine, and perhaps even for Kirby Dach.
Maybe, just maybe, this experiment hasn’t been convincing enough to continue.
