With Laine requesting a trade out of Columbus, Utah needs to make a splash and acquire him.
With the 2024 NHL Draft only two weeks away and the recent reports regarding Patrik Laine and his trade request, Utah needs to seize this opportunity.
The rumours surrounding Utah are that the team wants to be aggressive this off-season and be able to compete in their first season. Acquiring a pure goal scorer like Laine at the NHL Draft would set the tone for the organization's first off-season.
Adding Laine to a young core like Utah would not only provide the team with a player who could score 40+ goals a season but also may help him feel better about his game.
The asking price for Laine has not yet been reported, but it'll likely cost an NHL player a prospect and a draft pick to pry him out of Columbus.
As for the Columbus Blue Jackets and their new GM, Don Waddell, he may be willing to sacrifice this season to make his club better in the long run. Meaning that they could technically 'lose' this trade with Utah but still get back assets to help them in the future.
A trade package that could make sense for both teams is a draft pick-heavy return for the Blue Jackets. Utah has 13 picks in the 2024 NHL draft and would be open to parting with some if it meant improving their team.
Full Trade Breakdown:
Columbus Blue Jackets Receives: Jack McBain 2024 2nd Round Pick (FLA) & 2024 3rd Round Pick (EDM)
Utah Receives: Patrick Laine
This goes back to what was said earlier: Columbus could be willing to take on more assets and move on from Laine and his full $8.7 million cap hit. Jack McBain still has a lot of potential in his game and could end up being a solid middle-six forward for the Blue Jackets.