The Carolina Hurricanes may seek to trade Patrik Laine from the Jets.
Could the Carolina Hurricanes explore the idea of landing Patrik Laine from the Winnipeg Jets with their great defensive depth pieces?
I have long said that the major hole in this Carolina Hurricanes roster is a top 6 winger to round out the scoring. Rumors from Pierre Lebrun have surfaced suggesting a possible move between the Manitoba organization and the Carolina Hurricanes with a very desirable piece too. Finnish forward Patrik Laine. Why is Laine an ideal fit for the Canes and why his history with one cane could be great?
Laine was the 2nd overall pick in 2016 and for good reason. He’s got a rocket of a shot comparable to the shot of the great 8, the league’s best-ever pure scorer. In 305 NHL games, Laine has recorded 138 goals and 109 assists for 247 points. He’s been a great player during his limited career in the Great White North, and could be a nice piece given his history with one Carolina Hurricane.
Laine was the linemate of one Sebastian Aho at the World Junior Championships and the two are considered to be good friends. Being able to role out a line with a “Finnishing touch” has to seem worth, just for the pun. Laine and Aho worked well together for Finland, to devastating effect. Reuniting the pair at PNC Arena could spell trouble for the rest of the NHL.
https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1217257040046972930?s=20
I would like to issue a warning that the other member of the vaunted Laine and Aho line currently is in a major contract dispute with the Edmonton Oilers and refuses to play for them, so you have to take the world juniors with a pinch of salt. It didn’t work well for Jesse Puljujarvi. It may have varying degrees of success depending on the opponents.
So, what would it take for the Canes to land this Finnish sniper? Lebrun sights the defensive depth of the Canes, mentioning Brett Pesce, Jake Gardiner, and Brady Skjei all being pieces that could accompany a center-piece. Lebrun states that the centerpiece to be Vincent Trocheck. It was rumored that one of the goaltenders could accompany this package.
Lebrun did also mention by name that Pesce would almost have to be a straight swap for Carolina to be willing to part with him, because of his value regarding the fact he makes peanuts in a flat cap for the next 4 years. This is worth mentioning because a lot of people have valued Pesce as a potential return for a top 6 winger.
Why could this return be interesting for Winnipeg? Well, their defense is currently made up of waste from your local Starbucks. Anything they can get to fill that hole would be worth that trade. With one of the other great wingers Winnipeg has, they won’t feel the effect of Laine moving so much, and the hole they can fill in his return is surely worth exploring.
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I just want to clarify, this is the rumor as I write this, and I’m often looking for tagged minnow in the Pacific Ocean when looking at reasons why trades might happen. If there are alternate reasons that apply, or you don’t like the rumor, I’m not creating this, I’m just explaining it to the best of my ability. However limited that ability may be, I still have to try.
I also think it’s worth noting that Winnipeg has an interest in a backup goaltender with Carolina potentially looking into starting goalies via trade or free agency. We could very well see a domino effect with one trade here leading to another, however, this is pure speculation and there’s nothing to support this other than circumstantial pieces.