Patrik Laine is back after being cleared by the Player Assistance Program.
Laine had requested a trade back in June, but he was still recovering from shoulder surgery that ended his season. He joined the Player Assistance Program about five weeks after his injury.
Now that he’s out of the program, teams can start talking to him again. Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell didn’t say much about Laine’s future or any trade talks. Last month, Friedman mentioned the Kraken as a possible destination for Laine. The Wild have also shown some interest in him.
Trade Talks and Injury Concerns:
Laine had a tough last season with many injuries, playing only 18 games and scoring six goals with three assists. However, in the two years before that, he was almost scoring a point per game for Columbus. Fans might be excited to see where he ends up next.
Even though he’s cleared now, his injury history is still a big worry. This might mean Waddell will need to keep part of Laine’s $8.7M cap hit to make any trade work financially. Laine is under contract until 2025-26 and has some control over where he can be traded due to his no-trade clause.
Despite all the trade talk, it’s great news that Laine has been cleared to play again. We all hope he continues strong in his NHL career.
What do you think about this news?
