Montreal Canadiens Expected to Make Unexpected Decision With Controversial Star Patrik Laine
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Photo credit: NHL
Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens could be looking to make a major move with Patrik Laine this summer during free agency according to NHL insider David Pagnotta.
Patrik Laine has always been one of the more controversial players in the NHL.
Whether he deserves it or not, he constantly seems to be involved in some kind of drama, and the former 2nd overall pick is already on his third team at the age of 27.
Furthermore, the Finnish sniper can't seem to stay healthy as he's only played in 70 or more games three times in his career, the first three seasons he had in the league.
He missed significant time with injury once again this year, and was once again injured during the Canadiens final game of the playoffs.
But despite all the rumors about him not being happy with his deployment in Montreal and him butting heads with head coach Martin St. Louis, it appears as though Laine could be settling into a role with the Canadiens.
This comes from NHL insider David Pagnotta, who revealed that the organization plans to engage in contract extension talks with him over the summer.
"Also, the team has not yet spoken with Patrik Laine's camp about an extension - he's entering the final year of his contract - but that is expected at some point after the NHL Draft."
Of course, it is very possible that those negotiations fall flat and Laine ends up somewhere else by the end of next season whether that means an offseason trade or a deal at the trade deadline.
But if the team finds themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot at the deadline again next year, we very well could see Laine spend the whole season with the team even without a contract for the following year.
Regardless, the Canadiens seem to be well suited to grow into a contender with or without Laine thanks to the team's promising prospect pool highlighted by Ivan Demidov and Calder winner Lane Hutson.
Perhaps the team would be better off trading him anyways due to the fact that he can't seem to stay healthy.
Either way, be sure to stay tuned this summer as we could see Kent Hughes make a major move with Laine, be that a trade or a contract extension.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 22 | 451 ANSWERS Montreal Canadiens Expected to Make Unexpected Decision With Controversial Star Patrik Laine Would you be surprised if the Montreal Canadiens signed Patrik Laine to a contract extension this summer? | ||
| Yes | 274 | 60.8 % |
| No | 177 | 39.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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