The latest round of Montreal Canadiens rumors isn’t exactly mind-shocking. The chatter involves forward Patrik Laine and, well, Laine’s name has been in the hopper for quite a while now.
That’s why the most recent talk is pretty much a no-brainer. Per notable insider David Pagnotta, the LA Kings are kicking the tires on the 27-year-old Finnish forward. If anything, the biggest question would be: What has taken the Kings so long to get into the mix for Laine?
The Kings clearly have gaps in their scoring. Moreover, the loss of Kevin Fiala didn’t help. And while Artemi Panarin has been an okay fit thus far, the Kings need more if they want to get out of the hole they’re in and back into the playoff picture.
That’s why these Canadiens rumors are a no-brainer. The Habs want to dump Laine’s contract (or the remainder of it) and the Kings need scoring. This deal seems like the low-cost, low-risk type that both sides should be jumping on.
It’s worth pointing out that Laine has been a decent fit for the Canadiens. He scored 20 goals last season, but this year, he has only played five games. All that time missed has pretty much squeezed him out of the lineup, as younger players and in-season additions have knocked him out of the box.
That said, Pagnotta doubled down on the fact that Laine could be on the way out this week. It makes sense that it happens as soon as possible, given how much the Canadiens really need the cap space.
Canadiens Rumors Point Towards Something Big
The ongoing barrage of Canadiens rumors points towards something big happening. The Habs are reportedly in the mix for St. Louis Blues star center Robert Thomas, per RG Media.
Now, that’s a much bigger deal than the Laine trade. But it does mean that the Canadiens have much more than depth additions on their minds.
It’s also worth underscoring that the Canadiens have been looking to avoid overpaying on a blockbuster. That’s one of the reasons why they passed on Nazem Kadri earlier this year. But then again, the Habs won’t pass up the chance to land a big-ticket player like Thomas.
If there’s a chance they can land him, the Habs will try. That’s why Canadiens rumors have really picked up in the last few days.
Habs Fans Shouldn’t Be Disappointed If No Major Deals Happen
Habs fans shouldn’t be surprised if no major deals happen this week. If anything, failing to follow through on Canadiens rumors shouldn’t get fans down.
The reason is simple. Pushing for Thomas is a rare occurrence. Only a handful of teams have the wherewithal to pull off a deal like this. That’s why the Habs would push for Thomas.
Otherwise, the Canadiens have the pieces they need to contend. Plus, plenty more will be on the way.
That said, the most plausible Canadiens rumors are the ones focusing on depth pieces to help the young core win. The club has a solid chance this season and will roll with the current roster if no other deals make sense.
Canadiens Rumors: Latest Laine Chatter No-Brainer