NHL trade rumors: Potential landing spots for Patrik Laine

According to the latest NHL trade rumors, Patrik Laine could be on the move to the Eastern Conference. Here are some potential landing spots for the Winnipeg Jets forward.

While the restricted free agent market got a little boost with the signing of Clayton Keller to an eight-year extension with the Arizona Coyotes, the hockey world is still firmly focused on the NHL trade rumors drama between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mitch Marner. Taking a back burner is a similar situation brewing in Manitoba between the Winnipeg Jets and Patrik Laine. Both sides still need to come to an agreement.

Throughout the summer, there have been scattered rumors that the Jets might be looking to move Laine. Seemingly all of these rumors have been without merit. That was, until yesterday, when an unverified, yet surprisingly reliable source, broke some interesting news on Laine.

Yes, he might not be an insider. Yes, he might not have the all-important blue checkmark next to his name, but he has a nearly spotless track record. Incarcerated Bob becomes so reliable and infamous that even legitimate sports outlets have a measure of trust for him.

https://twitter.com/incarceratedbob/status/1169416987849703426

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Does this mean Jets fan should take to the streets and commence burning their Laine jerseys immediately? No, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be fun to do some speculation. Just who could those three Eastern Conference teams be?

Montreal Canadiens

Almost as soon as Incarcerated Bob hit the “send” button on that tweet, he had replies pouring in that one of the mystery teams could be the Montreal Canadiens.

And it’s not like the Canadiens aren’t the jealous rival of the Toronto Maple Leafs always trying to outgun one another. While putting the two together might not seem like a likely scenario, perhaps the Canadiens want to do something to make the most of Carey Price‘s prime years.

After all, they narrowly missed the playoffs last year in a stacked Atlantic division. Perhaps they see a potentially costly Laine addition as the thing to get the franchise their first Stanley cup championship since 1993.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Okay, the Tampa Bay Lightning have pretty much zero cap space at this point. They’re also a stacked team and will continue to be a stacked team for years in the future. A few first-round picks seem nearly dispensable to them as they hope to continue to be a playoff threat.

Imagine having Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Laine on the same team? That’d be the most dominant NHL superpower since the 1980’s Edmonton Oilers. Obviously this scenario is unlikely, but I can’t imagine general manager Julien Brisebois didn’t at least kick the tires on this one.

New Jersey Devils

This pick is a bit outside, but Ray Shero has made his New Jersey Devils career by fleecing the trade market. The “one for one” deal for Taylor Hall will forever be the gold standard of an NHL steal.

Like the Lightning example, it wouldn’t be crazy to think perhaps Shero at least inquired about Laine’s services. Unfortunately for him, however, last I checked, Kevin Cheveldayoff is the general manager of the Jets, not Peter Chiarelli. Any hope of a Laine for Connor Carrick trade, straight up, went out the window.

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders made a few waves with the rumors that they might offer sheet Marner. While Marner and Laine are two different types of players, you could expect roughly the same amount of elite point production from either of them.

Besides, the cost of acquiring Laine via trade as opposed to Marner via offer sheet would be similar, but a mutual pact would most likely result in a somewhat cheaper price. Also, after the news of how much the Islanders were willing to offer Artemi Panarin to sign in free agency, they’re on the lookout for a superstar. General Manager Lou Lamoriello is ready to make that big acquisition and give the Islanders their superstar.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Speaking of missing out on Marner, how about the Toronto Maple Leafs? Let’s assume for a moment that a happy union between Marner and the Leafs doesn’t come to fruition and their matrimony heads to a messy divorce.

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While the Leafs would get a boatload of draft picks, they would also lose one of their top three players. Laine could be a potential replacement, and if Marner leaves via offer sheet the Leafs will have plenty of draft picks to offer their Canadian neighbors. Leafs fans would be mad to lose Marner, but getting Laine would loosen the blow.

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