In August of last year, the Montreal Canadiens acquired forward Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets, exchanging defenseman Jordan Harris and a 2026 second-round pick. Laine’s contract spans four years, carrying a $34.8 million value with an $8.7 million cap hit through 2026. The decision to bring Laine on board involved crucial discussions with captain Nick Suzuki, playing a significant role in the trade’s approval.
Before completing the transaction, general manager Kent Hughes consulted with Suzuki to ensure the locker room supported the move. The captain’s perspective was crucial for Hughes, as he aimed to confirm the trade aligned with the team’s dynamics beyond the on-ice talent evaluation.
“Ken called me the day before the trade happened, just, you know, to try to get my thoughts,” Suzuki said in the series.
“It’s just to kind of talk with your captain and make sure that this is something that is the right move,” Hughes said. “We know hockey-wise what he’s capable of doing, but just making sure our room was good with it.”
Suzuki expressed strong support for adding Laine, highlighting his experience and proven performance at high levels over many years. This confirmation helped Hughes proceed confidently with the trade.
“You know, I was all for it, you know, he’s an amazing player, has been for a really long time, and you know I’m hoping we just get him back to where he was,” Suzuki said.
Patrik Laine Was Eager to Join the Canadiens Upon Hearing the Trade Possibility
Patrik Laine shared his enthusiasm about joining Montreal in the same documentary series that revealed Suzuki’s involvement. Learning about the Canadiens’ interest motivated him to commit to the team immediately.
“As soon as I heard that there might be a possibility to come here, I was all in,” Laine said. “I told everybody right away, pretty much said, you know, this is where I want to go.”
Despite missing the initial 24 games of the season due to a knee injury, Laine made a marked impact after his debut on December 3 against the New York Islanders, scoring a power-play goal in a 2-1 overtime win. He demonstrated his scoring ability, including a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres on December 17. Finishing his first season in Montreal with 20 goals, Laine quickly became one of the Canadiens’ key offensive contributors.
Looking ahead, Laine is expected to remain a vital scorer for the Canadiens, who are now focusing on building a young core around Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky to strengthen the team’s future.