Overview
- Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports Montreal is shopping Laine and would likely need to retain up to half of his prorated salary to move him.
- Heavy cites NHLTradeRumors analyst Jeremy Tingly linking Laine to the Blackhawks as a potential low-cost flier for secondary scoring.
- A separate Heavy report relays Tingly’s speculation that the Rangers could explore Laine in a broader discussion involving Vincent Trocheck.
- Laine had core muscle surgery at the end of October, has played five games with one assist this season, and was held out of the Canadiens’ first post-break practice for daily evaluation.
- Montreal is in a playoff race but has very limited cap space, creating pressure to move salary and ease a roster logjam ahead of the March 6 deadline.