Patrik Laine to Montreal: it's now confirmed

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David St-Jean
August 3, 2024 (7:40 PM)

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Kent Hughes is trying to improve his offense, and one great way to do that is by adding a talented young player like Patrik Laine.

Despite being something of a puzzle, the Finn is a top goal scorer, and that's a fact. He has a devastating shot and aims to score every time he shoots.

His name has been linked to the Canadiens in recent weeks, and to add to the rumors, he was spotted in the city.

"I saw there were red flags similar to those for Pierre-Luc Dubois regarding Patrik Laine that could be concerning. But at the same time, it's hard to find players who would want to come to Montreal, like Laine, a proven sniper who wants out of Columbus. He has just come out of the Player Assistance Program, but with Kent Hughes having so many contacts around the league, he will do his homework. [...]

Is there a possibility he could come here? YES! The Habs need players who can score, and Laine can do that. But I'm not sure if he would fit well with the team's chemistry in the locker room. We saw the example with Dubois in Los Angeles. We'll see, but he (Laine) was seen at Montreal's airport."

- Stu Cowan

So it's confirmed by a renowned journalist: Patrik Laine was in Montreal, or may still be there.

It's likely that Kent Hughes wanted to meet with him before making a trade, given that Patrik Laine costs $8.7 million per year for the next two years. That's a significant amount of money.

Hughes wants good players, but he also places a strong emphasis on the quality of the people he acquires, and that approach is paying off. I cannot confirm whether there was a meeting between Laine and Kent Hughes, but he was indeed in Montreal when the rumors were at their peak.

It is certainly not a coincidence, but only time will tell if Kent Hughes actually met with him.

Source: Gonordiques.com
Direction Montréal par avion pour Laine: un journaliste des Habs s'échappe