On Wednesday morning, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic revealed that Patrik Laine, a forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets and former second-overall draft pick, is now on the trading block. LeBrun noted that the Blue Jackets are working with Laine’s representatives, led by agent Andy Scott from Octagon, to find a new team for the forward.
Finding a trade partner for Laine could be challenging due to his perceived underperformance since his trade from the Winnipeg Jets in 2021, where he was dealt along with Jack Roslovic for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Adding to the complexity are Laine’s injury issues, his $8.7 million salary, and his current participation in the NHLPA’s player assistance program.
Despite these factors, I’m intrigued by the possibility of acquiring him, and I think the Canucks should be as well. Laine is a surprisingly effective and potentially underrated winger whose trade value might be lower than expected. He could provide the Canucks with a level of flexibility that’s rare among wingers of his caliber.
Before delving into Laine’s potential benefits, it’s worth considering the criticisms raised by Thomas Drance on Thursday’s edition of Canucks Talk on Sportsnet 650. Drance pointed out that Laine excels primarily with his left-side power play shot, which overlaps with the role typically filled by JT Miller. Drance contended that Laine’s elite skill is largely limited to power play shooting and that he struggles with play-driving and overall impact.
Although many fans seem to agree with Drance’s view, its validity is questionable. While Laine is indeed a strong power play contributor, the Canucks’ power play, which ranked 11th last season, could benefit from additional variety and new tactics. Adding another significant shooting threat like Laine could make their power play more dynamic and less predictable.
Contrary to the perception of Laine as merely a power play specialist, he has been an efficient goal-scorer at even strength. Over the past three seasons, his rate of 0.99 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 ranks him among the top players with at least 1,000 minutes of ice time, on par with stars like Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos.
Moreover, Laine is not one-dimensional or a defensive liability. While goal-scoring is his primary strength, he has also demonstrated a solid rate of primary assists and made notable improvements in his defensive play since his days with the Jets.