Rangers to acquire Patrik Laine? Star desperately wants out of Columbus

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Hunter Bowman
August 17, 2024 (6:27 PM)

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Could the New York Rangers acquire former 40-point scorer for an absolute steal of a deal?

As the offseason continues to wind down the Columbus able Jackets are still actively looking for a trade partner for forward Patrik Laine, who was just recently cleared from the NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell recently made an appearance on «OverDrive» with Bryan Hayes and Dave Feschuk, and stated that Laine has been �very vocal' on wanting to be traded, and even suggested something might have happened to him in the locker room.

"I've had players request trades before, and sometimes you trade them, sometimes you don't,"�he said.

"He's been very vocal about it, way before I got here, that he does not want to play for the Blue Jackets. I think there's a lot of things that went on in the locker room, and he just doesn't want to be here,"�he continued.

Waddell also revealed that there aren't a lot of teams interested in working out a deal for Laine, but there are a few teams who are engaged.

"There's not a lot of movement," Waddell said. "I'm talking to teams every day, I got two or three teams engaged right now."

Just last season Laine played 18 games with Blue Jackets and managed to tally a total of 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) before entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

So the main question stands, if Patrik Laine really wants out of Columbus, will he take a massive pay cut and move to a contending team?

Source: Hockeyfeed
Don Waddell: Patrik Laine «doesn't want to be here»