With the unexpected news of the Columbus Blue Jackets and top-line, $34.8 million winger Patrik Laine seeking a trade partner, Pittsburgh Penguins analysts have swiftly offered their advice for the franchise.
Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now suggests the Penguins should capitalize on this opportunity and trade for Laine to provide Sidney Crosby with an elite winger. “Once again, opportunity is knocking to remake the Pittsburgh Penguins roster with a buy-low trade. Dubas should pounce,” Kingerski stated in his June 13 article.
This potential trade could be facilitated by Laine’s reported request to move from the Blue Jackets, a request the franchise is already addressing. Kingerski’s proposal is based on Laine’s desire for a fresh start and the Penguins’ need for a scoring winger. He believes General Manager Kyle Dubas, known for shrewd acquisitions like that of Erik Karlsson, could pursue a similar strategy with Laine.
“Kyle Dubas is no dummy. He likes to play the odds and find values that others missed,” Kingerski wrote, referencing the acquisition of Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks in August 2023.
Laine, 26, has struggled with the Blue Jackets since his 2021 arrival, managing only nine points in 18 games in 2024 before entering the NHL Players’ Assistance Program in January. He has scored 64 goals in 174 games with Columbus, a stark contrast to his early NHL career with the Jets, where he scored 140 goals in 304 games, including a 44-goal season in 2017-18.
Kingerski argues that Laine’s decreased production makes this an ideal time for the Penguins to buy low. “Laine’s trade value will never be lower, making him affordable to the Penguins. His sagging numbers, missed season, and trade request mean Columbus doesn’t have much leverage–similar to the San Jose Sharks in the Karlsson trade,” he wrote.
Laine has two years left on his $34.8 million contract with an $8.7 million cap hit per season, including a 10-team no-trade list that must not include Pittsburgh for this trade to work. Kingerski believes there is minimal risk in trading for Laine, as even if he doesn’t bounce back, he would be a free agent in two seasons.
“Any experiment or investment that goes sideways will not harm the franchise long-term,” Kingerski wrote. “More likely, it could provide that scoring jolt and power play help the team desperately needs.”
Laine and his agent, Andy Scott, have discussed a trade with the Blue Jackets to give Laine a fresh start. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on June 12 that both Laine and the Blue Jackets are working together to find a suitable trade partner before the 2024-25 season.
Kingerski believes the Penguins can offer Laine the fresh start he needs, with teammates providing “leadership” and centers who can create scoring opportunities, most notably Sidney Crosby.
For the potential trade package, Kingerski suggests it could include Reilly Smith (to balance the finances) or Rickard Rakell and prospects if Columbus demands more. He also notes the relationship between the Penguins and Columbus’s new GM, Don Waddell, could facilitate the trade, referencing their previous trade involving Jake Guentzel in March 2024.
