The pros and cons of trading for Patrik Laine
Patrik Laine is looking for a fresh start in the NHL. How can the Vegas Golden Knights benefit from acquiring him?
Sometimes, you have to take a risk in life. Moving to bigger and better things involves doing something one isn't comfortable with. That includes telling that person you secretly like how you feel and buying a particular stock. The Vegas Golden Knights might have that opportunity this summer with Patrik Laine on the market.
It was revealed by Pierre LeBrun on Wednesday that the Columbus Blue Jackets would help him seek a trade. Originally, Laine was acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in 2020-21 and signed to a four-year extension in July 2022. While he has the potential to become one of the best snipers in the NHL, injuries have plagued the young winger throughout his career. Combine that with Columbus's woeful ways and it creates a sad situation. But there might be other reasons why he wants out.
Could it be that Ohio's that boring? Whatever the case, Laine will have a deep market consisting of many teams. The Golden Knights could be one of those teams, for they're searching for younger, talented forwards. The Blue Jackets winger could be the solution Vegas is seeking this summer.
There are plenty of notable benefits to bringing in a budding talent of his caliber. The Columbus Blue Jackets winger provides the Vegas Golden Knights with more scoring, making them deadlier at the top of the lineup. There's also getting a player before his prime that makes Patrik Laine special.
However, there are some prices to pay with trading for a young talent. After all, nothing comes free in life. If that were the case, what would be the point of even living? Anyways, here are some pros and cons of trading for the young Columbus forward.
Pros of the Vegas Golden Knights trading for Patrik Laine
There aren't many NHL players who are great at sniping the way Patrik Laine is. He has one of the strongest (and fastest) shots, making him a scoring threat. On top of that, he's accurate with his shot, adding more potency to his game. But having an excellent shot isn't the only thing the Finnish star brings to the table.
He also stands at 6'5" and weighs 210 lbs, bringing more size to the Vegas Golden Knights lineup. He uses his large frame offensively, steering defenders away from trying to strip the puck. Combined with great handwork and control, the winger can provide 40-goal potential for any inquiring team.
The Columbus Blue Jackets star coming to Vegas isn't a new rumor. His aforementioned qualities make him an attractive trade candidate. He's also 26 years old, which will help the Golden Knights in many ways. Overall, this has the potential to get Vegas back to the Stanley Cup Final and dominate the NHL.
The cons of trading for Patrik Laine
Yes, there are some cons associated with acquiring Patrik Laine from the Blue Jackets. For one, he carries a cap hit of $8.7 million for the next two seasons. Even if Kelly McCrimmon works a deal where another team retains his salary, that's a sizable amount of cap space allocated to a player. That cap space could be used to bring in cheaper low-risk veterans.
Considering the Vegas Golden Knights have been hard-pressed to find any room in this category, it might be better as a short-term move. Jack Eichel's current deal also expires in two seasons, putting Vegas in a tight spot. That's especially true with the Golden Knights reportedly looking into acquiring Mitch Marner.
Although Laine would be a younger alternative to Mitch Marner, he's also more injury-prone. The Finnish winger has dealt with numerous injuries over the years, making it tougher to justify acquiring the star. He played in 18 games this season, dealing with collarbone and upper-body injuries.
The verdict
This is a fun trade possibility because of what it can bring the Vegas Golden Knights. They can acquire another scoring threat to bolster their lineup and add more youth to their lineup. It seems like a perfect scenario for a team looking to crack their Stanley Cup window open.
However, numerous factors could prevent this from happening. The Golden Knights don't have the cap space to pull off more than one big move. With rumors of Mitch Marner swirling around, this will likely take precedence over anything else.
The same can be said for re-signing Jonathan Marchessault. Bringing back a revered star will also be the main focus of Kelly McCrimmon, leaving him to pick the route he wants to take. Whatever the case, the NHL offseason added an extra layer of drama. The Columbus Blue Jackets star will bring more excitement to a period filled with big names.
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