The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris, the teams announced Monday.
“We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him,” general manager Don Waddell said. “We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best.”
Waddell said all along he was hoping to trade left winger Patrik Laine without retaining any of Laine’s massive salary.
On Monday, just one month away from the start of training camp, Waddell pulled off one of the biggest deals in his momentous first summer in Columbus.
But, notably, the Jackets did not retain any portion of Laine’s $8.7 million contract, which runs through the 2025-26 season.
According to PuckPedia, the Blue Jackets now have over $18 million in salary cap space, which can be used in a variety of ways in the coming seasons.
The Canadiens have traded defenseman Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Patrik Laine and a second-round pick in 2026
News release ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/EEuIsLb32E
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) August 19, 2024
Laine spent the last three-plus seasons in Columbus, notching 64 goals and 80 assists over that span, including just nine points in 18 games last season. The 26-year-old winger was the No. 2 selection of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Draft. Since entering the league, he posted 204 goals and 184 assists in 480 games.
Harris, 24, made his NHL debut during the 2021-22 season after the Canadiens nabbed him in the 2018 Draft. He registered eight goals and 24 assists in 131 career NHL games since, also posting 86 blocked shots and 43 shots on goal.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: Christopher Mast / NHLI via Getty Images)
