Don Waddell, the GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets, granted Hughes an unusual privilege: he allowed him to speak directly with Laine before the trade was finalized, a rare occurrence in this context.
Typically, such discussions are permitted only when the player is a free agent or when contract negotiations are needed, but that was not the case here.
These conversations were crucial in finalizing the trade, allowing Hughes, along with Jeff Gorton and Martin St-Louis, to ensure that Laine was aligned with the team's expectations.
