Is Columbus Blue Jackets’ star a good fit for the Boston Bruins?
The Columbus Blue Jackets and forward Patrik Laine have amicably agreed to split ways, with the organisation allowing the 6-foot-5, 210-pound right winger to seek a trade. Laine, when healthy, is one of the NHL’s most talented scoring forwards. However, the Finnish forward has recently dealt with injuries and participated in the league’s player assistance programme.
The 25-year-old had joined the NHL and NHLPA’s player assistance programme in late January, rendering him unavailable to the club for some time. Laine left the team just over a month after fracturing his collarbone in mid-December, which hampered his recovery process. Laine appeared in only 18 regular-season games for the Blue Jackets in 2023-24, scoring six goals and three assists while posting a minus-10 rating.
Laine averaged a point a game the previous two seasons and has scored at least 60 points in three different seasons. At his age, Laine is still a valuable asset, and the Boston Bruins require a scoring forward to help relieve some of David Pastrnak’s workload. Pastrnak and Laine on the right side of two different lines seems appealing. The Bruins should at least inquire about the asking price for such an exceptional player. Teams should be lined up to make offers now that the Blue Jackets have announced that they would trade their skilled forward.
What would the Bruins have to give up for a player of Laine’s calibre? Most certainly a top prospect or two, and possibly a roster player. The team must determine whether Laine is worth some of the risk associated in getting the erratic star, but the talent level is there, and if Laine is happy and healthy, he can give elite offence to a team that was lacking in that area in the playoffs this season.
There are numerous factors to consider when adding someone like Patrik Laine. Does the benefit exceed the risk? The Bruins would be taking a bet that Laine would thrive in a strong system with talented players, fueled by the prospect of winning the Stanley Cup. With a 10-team No Trade Clause, the Bruins would have to be one of Laine’s options, and at $8.7 million for the next two seasons, the risk may be too large.
