The Edmonton Oilers have some work to do before the trade deadline, but could Patrik Laine be a part of those plans?
That’s what one NHL insider appears to think of the underutilized Montreal Canadiens sniper. Things haven’t gone his way since he started playing for the Habs, but those troubles have followed him around since his Winnipeg Jets days.
While the Oilers could certainly look to the New York Rangers or the Toronto Maple Leafs for another offensive player, Laine has the skill to help a contender.
Here is the trade proposal and how it could potentially impact both teams.
Nick Kypreos Patrik Laine Trade Proposal
Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet has recently released his trade board for the upcoming March 6th Trade Deadline. On the board are many familiar faces, specifically, Andrew Mangiapane and Laine.
Regarding Laine, he mentioned that the Canadiens could be willing to retain a large portion of his contract.
“Montreal is looking to move out his money and might be willing to spend an asset to do that,” Kypreos wrote on February 2, 2026. “The Canadiens are prepared to retain a good chunk (even up to 50 per cent) of his deal, considering they haven’t used any retention slots and because Laine’s contract expires at the end of the season anyway.”
“Edmonton’s Andrew Mangiapane is also on my list, and it makes me wonder if a Montreal-Edmonton match might be found here.”
As for Mangiapane, here’s what the insider wrote about his side of things.
“The Oilers continue to work the market for Mangiapane and should be able to find a partner by March 6, though the return isn’t likely to be anything major,” Kypreos wrote. “The biggest hurdle might be Mangiapane’s no-trade clause, though it does seem like he’d be willing to waive it to try to find a better fit elsewhere.”
How Could a Patrik Laine Trade Work For the Oilers?
The easiest path to a trade between these two teams hinges on a third team or 50 percent retention from the Canadiens.
According to PuckPedia, Laine is in the final year of a contract paying him $8.7 million a season. At 50 percent retained, that bumps him down to $4.35 million.
However, Mangiapane only makes $3.6 million this year and next. So a one-for-one swap tabs the Oilers for gaining another $750,000 in salary.
At the time of this writing, they have only $425,000 in available space. Which means further moves are needed, or more players need to be added to the deal to make it feasible.
Does This Trade Make Sense For the Oilers?
To put it bluntly, this trade would make no sense for the Oilers. While it would be nice for the team to get a new shiny toy to play with, Laine would not be a fit. The coaching staff has displayed an unwillingness to give Matt Savoie and Ike Howard significant minutes. There is no guarantee that something similar wouldn’t happen to Laine.
Laine does not have a reputation as a two-way talent. This has contributed to his decreased usage over the last few seasons. Over the last three seasons (including the current season), he has averaged 15:13, 14:18, and 12:36 in ice time. Over his 10-year career, these are the first years he has dipped below 16 minutes a night.
If the Oilers were looking for someone to snipe powerplay goals, Laine would be a great fit. However, that is not where the Oilers are, nor what they need.
It might be worth considering adding goal scorers, but the Oilers have other problems to address.
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