Mailbag: Laine trade talks with Blue Jackets; Rangers’ Cup chances
The NHL offseason is always a time of excitement and speculation, and this year is no different. With the free agency frenzy behind us, many teams are still looking to make moves to improve their rosters for the upcoming season. One of the most intriguing storylines is the potential trade of Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Laine, a two-time 40-goal scorer, has been the subject of trade rumors for several years now, and it seems like a move is inevitable. Another hot topic is the New York Rangers and their chances of winning the Stanley Cup. The Rangers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but they didn’t make any major moves this offseason, leading to questions about their ability to contend for the championship.
In this week’s edition of the NHL.com mailbag, we’ll answer your questions about these two storylines and others. As always, we’ll be breaking down the latest news and rumors, analyzing the potential impact of trades, and providing our expert insights on the direction of the NHL. So grab a drink, sit back, and get ready for some insightful hockey talk.
- Patrik Laine is the subject of trade talks with the Columbus Blue Jackets as they look to shed salary and acquire assets for the future.
- Laine, a two-time 40-goal scorer, is in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, adding complexity to assessing his availability and potential return in a trade.
- The Blue Jackets are seeking a trade partner willing to take on Laine’s hefty $8.7 million AAV, similar to the Kuznetsov trade where salary retention might be necessary for a deal.
- The New York Rangers’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup are under scrutiny after making it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season without major offseason moves.
- Speculation surrounds whether the Rangers’ current roster is strong enough to contend for the championship or if further changes are needed for a successful Cup run.
The Laine Trade Saga
The Columbus Blue Jackets are in a full-blown rebuild, and they’re looking to shed salary and acquire assets for the future. Patrik Laine, a talented but inconsistent forward, is one of the players they’re willing to move. Laine has two years remaining on his contract, but he’s also in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, which makes it difficult to assess his availability and potential return. The Blue Jackets are hoping to find a suitable trade partner who is willing to take on Laine’s hefty $8.7 million AAV, but it’s unlikely that any team will be eager to commit to that kind of salary without a clear understanding of his situation.
The Evgeny Kuznetsov trade to the Carolina Hurricanes last season provides a possible template for a Laine trade. In that deal, the Washington Capitals retained 50% of Kuznetsov’s salary, which allowed the Hurricanes to acquire him without exceeding their cap space. The Blue Jackets are likely hoping for a similar outcome with Laine, but they may have to settle for a smaller return than they initially hoped for. The uncertainty surrounding Laine’s future makes it difficult for any team to make a significant investment in him.
The Capitals are one team that has been linked to Laine, but their limited cap space makes it unlikely that they can afford him, even with salary retention. The key for the Blue Jackets will be to find a team that needs a goal scorer and is willing to take a gamble on Laine’s potential. Whether that team exists remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the Blue Jackets are motivated to move him. It’s just a matter of finding the right fit.
The Rangers’ Cup Chances
The New York Rangers were a dominant team last season, finishing with the best record in the league and making a deep playoff run. However, their lack of major moves this offseason has led to questions about their ability to repeat that success. The Rangers have kept their core intact, but they’ve lost a few key players, including Barclay Goodrow, and they haven’t added any significant pieces through free agency or trades. This has left some fans wondering if the Rangers are in danger of taking a step back.
It’s tempting to dismiss the Rangers’ chances of winning the Cup based on their lack of offseason activity, but that would be a mistake. The Rangers still have a talented roster, led by Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Adam Fox. They’ve also got a promising group of young players, including Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko, who could take a step forward this season. The Rangers’ biggest weakness might be their defense, but they’ve got a solid core led by Fox and Jacob Trouba. While they may not have made any splashy moves this offseason, the Rangers are still a formidable team that has the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs.
The key for the Rangers will be staying healthy and getting contributions from their entire roster. If they can do that, they’ll be in contention for the Stanley Cup. However, if they suffer any major injuries or fail to get consistent production from their supporting cast, they could find themselves struggling to compete in a tough Eastern Conference. It’s still early in the season, so it’s too soon to write off the Rangers’ chances of winning the Cup, but they’ll need to overcome their lack of offseason moves to prove they’re still a true contender.
Other Notable Mailbag Questions
In addition to the Laine and Rangers questions, we received many other interesting inquiries from our readers. Here are a few of the most notable:
Mitch Marner’s Future in Toronto
One of the most pressing questions facing the Toronto Maple Leafs is the future of Mitch Marner. Marner is entering the final year of his contract, and there’s been speculation that he could be traded if the Leafs are unable to re-sign him. However, the Leafs have stated that they want to keep Marner, and it seems likely that he will remain in Toronto. Marner is a key piece of the Leafs’ offense, and losing him would be a major blow to their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.
Leon Draisaitl’s Future in Edmonton
Another player who is entering the final year of his contract is Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers. Draisaitl is one of the best players in the league, and he’s a key part of the Oilers’ success. However, the Oilers are facing a salary cap crunch, and they may need to make some tough decisions to keep Draisaitl. If they can’t afford to re-sign him, the Oilers could be forced to trade him, which would be a devastating blow to the franchise.
Nikolaj Ehlers’ Future in Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Jets have been trying to shed salary this offseason, and one of the players they could move is Nikolaj Ehlers. Ehlers is a talented forward, but he has one year remaining on his contract, and the Jets may not be able to afford to keep him. If Ehlers is traded, it would be a significant loss for the Jets, who are trying to build a contender around their young core.
Jacob Trouba’s Future in New York
The New York Rangers have been trying to move defenseman Jacob Trouba for several years now, and it seems like a trade is inevitable. Trouba has two years remaining on his contract, but his high salary cap hit makes him a difficult player to move. The Rangers are hoping to find a team that is willing to take on his contract, but it’s unclear whether they’ll be able to find a suitable trade partner. If the Rangers can’t trade Trouba, they’ll have to find a way to fit him into their salary cap structure, which could mean making other difficult decisions.
The Predators’ Goalie Situation
The Nashville Predators signed Scott Wedgewood as their backup goaltender this offseason, which has led some fans to question the future of Yaroslav Askarov. Askarov is a highly-touted prospect, but he still needs more seasoning in the AHL. The Predators are hoping that Wedgewood can provide stability in net while Askarov continues to develop, but it’s possible that Askarov could push for a starting role sooner rather than later.
The Sabres’ Offseason Moves
The Buffalo Sabres are hoping to end their long playoff drought this season, and they’ve made several moves to improve their roster. They added depth up front by signing Jason Zucker, Sam Lafferty, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, and they also acquired Ryan McLeod and Beck Malenstyn in separate trades. These moves are a step in the right direction for the Sabres, but they’ll need their top-end players to step up if they want to make a real run. It’s too early to say whether the Sabres have done enough to compete for a playoff spot, but they’re certainly in a better position than they were a year ago.
As we head into the new season, there are still many questions unanswered, but one thing is certain: the NHL is as exciting and unpredictable as ever. The trade deadline is still a few months away, and there are sure to be more blockbuster deals made in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned, hockey fans, and get ready for another exciting season.
