The Patrik Laine trade talk takes a shocking turn

New Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell has indicated that he will aim to do what is best for both Laine and the team, which likely means Laine is on the trading block.

However, finding a trade partner may be more difficult than anticipated. Waddell informed the Columbus Dispatch that only one team had shown interest in Laine. Most organizations are taking a break at this offseason stage and are not actively pursuing trades or signings.

Additionally, Waddell faces another challenge: he is unwilling to retain much of Laine's salary. Laine's contract has two years remaining and a cap hit of $8.7 million, making it a tough sell for potential suitors.

Laine's hefty salary has always been a sticking point for the Blue Jackets. Despite his undeniable talent, Laine hasn't consistently performed at an $8.7 million level since his time with the Winnipeg Jets.

During his stint with the Jets, Laine played 306 games, amassing 140 goals and 250 points, including an impressive 44-goal season in 2017-18 when he was just 19. However, since joining the Blue Jackets, he has appeared in 174 games, scoring 64 goals and 138 points. His decline in production and his struggles to stay healthy makes his sizable contract challenging for the Blue Jackets.

It's pretty evident now that Laine needs a change of scenery; he could end up being a very underrated acquisition if he remains healthy. When the Jets first acquired him in the 2016 Draft, they believed Laine had the potential to be an ever-better goalscorer than Auston Matthews. He hasn't lived up to those expectations thus far.

Credit: YardBarker