In today’s NHL rumors rundown, there is still trade chatter regarding Patrik Laine with five teams mentioned as ideal fits. Of the five, could the Pittsburgh Penguins be the best fit? Meanwhile, some news is surfacing as to why prominent sports broadcaster Jeff Marek suddenly parted ways with Sportsnet. A potential gambling investigation is the last thing fans would have assumed when they found out he was no longer with the network.
Five Teams as Best Fit For Patrik Laine Trade
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine was released from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program on Friday, raising speculation about a potential trade. Rumors of a deal date back to June and the new president of hockey operations and GM Don Waddell noted that teams were interested in Laine but wanted to speak with him directly. With Laine now available for talks, speculation is ramping up.
There is no guarantee of a move due to Laine’s limited play in the 2023-24 season (just 18 games and nine points) and his $8.7-million cap hit for the next two seasons is also a significant hurdle. However, Josh Wegman of The Score suggested five teams that might make for the best fit.
Wegman argues that several teams could benefit from acquiring Laine, including the Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and Buffalo Sabres. Each team offers different opportunities and challenges for Laine, making the upcoming trade talks highly anticipated.
He notes the Penguins as a five-star fit and writes, “There may be no better spot for Laine to rejuvenate his career than in Pittsburgh.” Noting that Sidney Crosby and Laine has the potential for instant chemistry and the Penguins could use Laine on their struggling power play, Laine’s lethal one-timer looks attractive.
Wegman adds:
Pittsburgh also has $3.5 million in cap space and could create more room by including a depth forward such as Lars Eller ($2.45-million AAV) or Noel Acciari ($2 million) in a deal for Laine. It’s the type of big swing president of hockey operations and GM Kyle Dubas needs to make if he wants to give his aging core one last chance of making a run.
More on Jeff Marek’s Departure from Sportsnet
According to a report in The Athletic, Jeff Marek’s sudden departure from Sportsnet might be related to an investigation into betting related to this year’s NHL Entry Draft. The Nevada Gaming Control Board would not…
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