How Islanders Can Get Patrik Laine From Blue Jackets – Hockey Writers – New York Islanders

Patrik Laine has been removed from the player assistance program, and with that news, he’s back on the trade block. Suddenly, the summer has one interesting move as many teams look to add a player who wants to restart his career after a tough few years with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Related: Islanders’ Latest Deals Give Patrick Roy Roster Flexibility

The New York Islanders are one of the teams that could use a player like Laine. His height makes him a good player for any team, and the Islanders could use his dynamic playmaking ability from the wing. The question is what kind of contribution they can muster. As the Blue Jackets look for the best possible return in a trade, many factors will be considered in the coming weeks.

Cap Hit by Laine

Laine has a big contract. With only two seasons left on the deal, he has an average annual value of $8.7 (AAV), making him a tough player to move. The Islanders are tight on the cap, and the recent signings, especially Simon Holmstrom and Oliver Wahlstrom, leave them with no room to add more.

The first thing the Islanders are hoping for is that the Blue Jackets, or a third team, will agree to take on some of Laine’s salary. Except for the Blue Jackets, a rebuilding team will do just that, assuming they can add the draft to the process (something the Arizona Coyotes did multiple times before their rookie season in Utah). The next thing the Islanders will have to do is shed some major contracts to make the deal work.

Islanders Have Bargaining Contracts

Islanders general manager (GM), Lou Lamoriello, got himself into this mess with a lot of bad contracts. He extended several key players from the 2020 and 2021 playoff runs, and now it’s calling for him. That being said, a hockey trade with the Blue Jackets would benefit all parties involved.

The player the Islanders are moving toward in a deal is Scott Mayfield. He doesn’t have a high AAV, but with six years left on his contract, it would be nice to move on from him. At all costs, Mayfield is a player the Blue Jackets can avoid, especially since their defense needs more youth and not a 31-year-old.

He won’t be traded for much as Lamoriello wants to get out of that contract. Instead, all eyes are on Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who has a $5.5 AAV and still plays a key role in the middle of the forward unit. The Blue Jackets could pick up a contract and add a depth center to round out the roster heading into the 2024-25 season.

Islanders pitchers

The Islanders could do one of two things to push Laine’s deal up. They could throw in a future asset like a draft pick or a potential William Dufour or Matthew Maggio, or they could add another player to the deal. The last option is very interesting as it closes the gap in Laine’s contract.

The Islanders have several players with one-year deals attached, most notably Holmstrom, Wahlstrom, and Hudson Fasching. None of them have an AAV over $2 million, but they could shake up the Blue Jackets to take on salary and keep the Islanders out of the division.

What the Ultimate Gift Might Look Like

Islanders will need a combination of all of the above. The Blue Jackets or another team would need to pick up some of Laine’s contract, and they would have to move Pageau, another forward, and a draft pick to make it work. It’s a big cost for a player with a lot of question marks, but it’s admirable given what he’s doing for the Islanders offense.

The program is good but not great yet. The Islanders have the ability to make the playoffs, but they are not in the same league as the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Laine may not do that, but he brings the Islanders closer to contention. In addition, Laine does everything he can and his offense is a tough part to stop, and that’s what this team needs.

What do you think needs to happen for the Laine trade to work? Let us know in the comment section below!