Pros and Cons of the Wild Considering Patrik Laine as a Trade Fit

An NHL sniper on a team that needs scoring sounds ideal, but is Patrik Laine really a good fit with the Wild?

Rumors continue to surround Patrik Laine and his trade request from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Despite challenges that exist in trading for a player with a large cap hit and a questionable work rate, the Minnesota Wild have emerged as a team kicking tires. 

According to The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith (subscription required), Wild GM Bill Guerin is expected to reach out to Laine to gauge his interest in playing for Minnesota. 

However, the potential trade comes with both positives and negatives.

Laine's production has dropped in recent seasons. Still, he has a history as an NHL scorer that is well-documented. NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp highlighted that Minnesota could benefit by adding a star like Laine, as the team currently lacks a true sniper with the potential to put up big numbers. 

It might be tempting to add someone with Laine's experience. And, there was a time when he was considered one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL. He posted three 30-plus goal seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, including a career-high 44 goals in 2017-18. Minnesota lacks household names (besides Kirill Kaprizov) and might provide a solid environment for Laine to find his game.

And, while the Wild are a team with a solid fan base, the spotlight doesn't shine quite as brightly there as it would on Laine if he were to go to Montreal or Toronto. 

As with any team, there should be concerns about how Laine fits into the Wild's established identity. Rupp pointed out that the Wild’s success is built on hard work and a team-first mentality. Laine’s style of play might not align with this philosophy. What the Wild don't want to do is bring in unnecessary drama as the team sits on the bubble as a playoff contender. 

Additionally, the Wild face significant cap space challenges. With just over $750,000 in cap space and a full 23-man roster, they would need to clear considerable salary to accommodate Laine’s $8.7 million cap hit. 

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has stated that he might be willing to retain some salary, but to this point, he's avoided seriously talking about deals that require the Jackets to eat a significant chunk of Laine's contract.

There's also the not-so-small unknown when it comes to Laine's production. He's a gamble and the Wild, who want more scoring, need more of a sure thing. 

While Laine’s past scoring ability could make him an intriguing fit for the Wild, he presents financial and logistical hurdles. It won't hurt to kick tires, but the Wild should proceed with caution.