The San Jose Sharks should be interested in trading for Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine.

The San Jose Sharks should be interested in trading for Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine.

The Sharks also have cap flexibility to help facilitate a trade involving Laine.

Laine has struggled mightily this season for CBJ, leading to him being a healthy scratch for their game tonight. Laine has two goals and three points in nine games.

Laine has a cap hit of $8.7 million and has a modified no-trade clause. He will have to submit a 10-team no-trade list.

As of today, the Sharks have $2,085,422 in cap space. However, they project to have $9,311,652 in cap space at the trade deadline. That is more than enough space to fit Laine under the cap threshold. 

The Sharks could be interested in acquiring him, but given the track record of Laine wanting to be in the playoffs, the Sharks might be on his no-trade list. 

If San Jose does acquire the forward, he will be an elite winger who can play with Tomas Hertl. Something he hasn't had since Timo Meier left.

The 2016 second-overall pick has had an up-and-down career. First with the Winnipeg Jets and now the Blue Jackets, Laine has yet to find a place he can genuinely mesh with.

If Laine was going somewhere that needs scoring help, like the Carolina Hurricanes, the Sharks could get more draft capital by taking on some of Laine's $8.7 million cap hit.

The Laine saga has been fascinating, as his superstar talent has been shown in spurts. The Sharks could be in on the forward but could be a helping hand should he go to a team closer to contending. 

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