As the Montreal Canadiens gear up for the NHL season to resume following the Olympic break, forward Patrik Laine was seen practicing in an unusual role, taking part in drills as a defenceman on Tuesday. This positioning signals the Canadiens’ intent to move Laine, with reports from earlier this year indicating the team is even willing to cover part of his salary to facilitate a trade. The implications are clear: the Canadiens no longer envision Laine fitting into their regular lineup, especially now that Alex Newhook has returned to play after shedding his non-contact jersey.
With the NHL Trade Deadline just two weeks away, Montreal appears determined to find a new destination for the Finnish winger. Rumors linking Laine to the Los Angeles Kings emerged in recent weeks after the Kings lost forward Kevin Fiala to an Olympic injury. However, those talks have been officially dismissed as the Kings reportedly do not see Laine as the right fit for their roster, leaving the Canadiens to seek other trade partners for their three-time 30-goal scorer.
Detroit Red Wings Eye Laine to Boost Their Offense
The Detroit Red Wings represent a plausible destination for Patrik Laine due to their pressing need for goal-scoring talent. Sitting third in the Atlantic Division and tied on points with the Canadiens, Detroit struggles with a goal differential of minus one, the worst among playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference. Their current first-line left winger, Marco Kaspar, has only 13 points in 57 games, a total insufficient for a team aiming to advance deep into the postseason.
Given Detroit’s substantial salary cap flexibility, acquiring Laine should not present financial obstacles. The only hindrance might be strategic, as trading with a direct divisional rival carries inherent competitive risks. Nonetheless, if Montreal is keen to move Laine off their roster, the Red Wings’ offensive needs and available cap space make them a logical candidate.
Challenges and Opportunities for the New York Islanders
The New York Islanders face challenges similar to those of Detroit: offensive struggles that could be alleviated by a scorer like Laine. Although the Islanders do not suffer from a negative goal differential, their goal-scoring total is the lowest among all Eastern Conference playoff teams. Key forwards Jonathan Drouin, Ondrej Palat, and Calum Ritchie have combined for merely 15 goals this season, contributing to the team’s league-worst power-play unit, ranked 30th.
Adding Laine could help alleviate scoring woes but presents a strategic gamble. Known for their defensive discipline, the Islanders may hesitate to bring in a player whose strengths lie more in scoring than in responsible defensive play. However, their stout defensive system, which concedes the third-lowest goals per game (2.71) in the league, might provide the framework to effectively integrate a high-risk, high-reward offensive weapon like Laine.
Chicago Blackhawks Could Offer Laine a Role with Top Prospects
Unlike Detroit and the Islanders, the Chicago Blackhawks are not currently competing for a playoff berth, which could make them more willing to take on a player like Laine to complement rising star Connor Bedard. Bedard’s linemates, Ryan Greene and Andre Burakovsky, fail to provide solid top-six support; Burakovsky is more suited to bottom-six roles, and Greene is a rookie still adapting to the NHL.
Laine’s presence on the Blackhawks’ top line could relieve some of the immense pressure on Bedard by offering a pure shooter with proven scoring ability. Last season, Laine demonstrated his offensive talent by scoring 20 goals in 52 games, notably contributing 15 power-play goals. Chicago’s 19th-ranked power-play unit stands to benefit significantly from Laine’s shooting prowess, making this an intriguing possibility despite the Blackhawks’ overall rebuilding status.
Trade Deadline Poised to Shift Laine’s Future
With the trade deadline approaching in two weeks, expectations are mounting that the Canadiens will complete a deal involving Patrik Laine. The exclusion of the Los Angeles Kings from the running refocuses attention on teams like the Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and Chicago Blackhawks, each offering distinct advantages and challenges for Laine’s next chapter. How Montreal navigates divisional rivalries and team needs will weigh heavily on the negotiations.
Ultimately, Laine’s departure could have significant implications for the Canadiens’ roster strategy and playoff ambitions, while his addition to any of the aforementioned teams has the potential to alter the competitive landscape in the Eastern Conference. As clubs evaluate their offensive deficiencies and playoff prospects, the next movement of Patrik Laine may emerge as one of the most consequential trades of the NHL deadline.
Patrik Laine qui est utilisé comme défenseur lors des deux derniers exercices à l’entraînement…..Ça en dit long. @DLCoulisses pic.twitter.com/OIVZkmbWis
— Marc-Olivier Cook (@Cook_Marco)
Patrik Laine qui est utilisé comme défenseur lors des deux derniers exercices à l’entraînement…..
Ça en dit long. @DLCoulisses pic.twitter.com/OIVZkmbWis
— Marc-Olivier Cook (@Cook_Marco) February 24, 2026
Trade deadline update:
As the Kings explore the market for a top-six forward, I can confirm they spoke with Montreal about Patrik Laine. However, there doesn’t seem to be a fit right now and Kings are now looking elsewhere.
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) February 24, 2026
