Patrik Laine Nixed A Trade Before Being Traded To Montréal Per Report
Patrik Laine Nixed A Trade Before Being Traded To Montréal per Report
Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports - Patrik Laine Nixed A Trade Before Being Traded To Montréal Per ReportWhen players are moved, the question of whether or not a better deal could've been had always comes up. When it comes out that a player with a no-trade clause is moved, people always wonder if he actually refused a trade before eventually being dealt.
The Patrik Laine return underwhelmed some people, while others thought they got it right by getting a good young prospect and shedding $8.7 million in the process. But could there have been more?
NHL insider Renaud Lavoie was on BPM Sports' Le Club du Matin yesterday and spoke about the Laine to Montréal trade. Lavoie says Patrik Laine refused a deal that would've sent him to another club after a deal was struck between Columbus and the other team.
“Yes, there were other teams interested. Laine asked for a trade, as most people know,” said Lavoie. “Laine apparently refused an offer from another team before the Canadiens’ one came in.”
“It’s a place he wanted to play,” Lavoie said.
Lavoie did not say which team Laine refused to play for but did mention his 10-team no-trade list. Obviously, Montréal wasn't on his list. Don Waddell made mention of the fact that only a few teams were interested, but maybe that's because Laine had already been shooting down trades to teams he didn't want to play for. Maybe someone we'll know, but that's unlikely.
Which Laine will Montréal get? The healthy, 30-40 goal Laine or the oft-injured Laine. He's now the highest-paid Canadien and will be held to a much higher standard than any previous stop he's made.
One thing's for sure though, everyone is rooting for his comeback.
What do you think? Please share your thoughts on our forum.
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