The Montreal Canadiens have made a major move in the NHL trade market, acquiring forward Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The trade, which was announced on Saturday, sees the Canadiens sending forward Max Domi and a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Laine and forward Jack Roslovic.
Laine, 22, is a highly skilled winger who has spent his entire career with the Blue Jackets since being drafted second overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. In his four seasons with Columbus, Laine has recorded 140 goals and 110 assists in 306 games.
The Canadiens are hoping that Laine’s offensive prowess will help boost their scoring, as they currently rank 18th in the league in goals per game. Laine’s addition to the team’s top six forwards is expected to provide a significant boost to their offensive production.
In exchange for Laine, the Blue Jackets will receive Domi, who has spent the past two seasons with the Canadiens. Domi, 26, has recorded 44 goals and 72 assists in 195 games with Montreal.
The Canadiens are also sending a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft to the Blue Jackets as part of the trade. This pick was originally acquired by Montreal from the Chicago Blackhawks in a previous trade.
In addition to Laine, the Canadiens will also receive Roslovic, a 24-year-old forward who has recorded 26 goals and 41 assists in 180 games with the Blue Jackets. Roslovic is expected to provide depth and versatility to Montreal’s forward group.
This trade marks a significant move for both teams, as the Canadiens look to solidify their position as a top contender in the NHL and the Blue Jackets continue to build for the future.
The Canadiens currently sit in fourth place in the North Division with a record of 14-8-9, while the Blue Jackets are in seventh place in the Central Division with a record of 12-14-8.
The trade is pending physicals for both Laine and Roslovic, and is expected to be finalized in the coming days.
