The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly involved in a trade discussion with the Los Angeles Kings, with Habs forward Patrik Laine at the center of a potential deal.
It's rumor season, so we should take some of these reports seriously, but according to David Pagnotta, the Kings have drawn interest from other NHL teams in the line.
business discussion around #GoHabsGo Winger Patrik Laine has learned a little more, and I'm told #GoKingsGo Circling back to that. Other teams are also in the mix. We'll see if Montreal retains 50% of his $8.7 million AAV, but expectations are high that he'll be moved this week.
- David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) 3 March 2026
Pagnotta mentioned the possibility that the Canadiens could retain 50% of Line's contract to facilitate a deal.
Line is on the final year of an eight-year contract that has an annual average value of $8.7 million, however, it is important to remember that if teams trade for him before the March 6 NHL trade deadline, they will not be in trouble for the entire contract.
Contracts are based on days a player has spent with a team, not entire years, and given that there will be 22% of the schedule left to play after the deadline, Line's deal would only have a cap hit of $1.9 million, give or take a few thousand dollars.
This will make it a little easier to move the line, although it's obviously not a straightforward situation given the line's injury history and lack of success at 5v5.
Finding a new home for Patrick Lane
On the other side of the coin, Laine still has one of the best shots in the NHL, making him a very useful tool for a team looking to add a dominant presence on the power play. Los Angeles has one of the worst power plays in the league at 13.9% efficiency, which is only good for 28th in the league. This is one of the driving forces behind their disappointing season. For now, Los Angeles is looking for a Western Conference playoff sprint, but they are still in the race. They are just four points behind the Edmonton Oilers for the final wild card spot with a game in hand.
The Kings currently have plenty of cap space, about $11 million, meaning they don't have to convince the Habs to retain some portion of the contract to ensure a deal.
The Canadiens only have $1.4 million in available money, making retention a less than ideal situation for a team that is also looking to upgrade some positions. If the Habs intend to deal Patrik Laine, and other teams insist on retention, they may look to a team like the Vancouver Canucks to facilitate a deal.
