According to Dan Rosen from the NHL official site, a potential transaction involving Laine could resemble the one that sent Evgeny Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes last year, where Washington retained a portion of the salary.
Rosen believes that for the Blue Jackets to trade Laine and his $8.7 million salary, they may need to retain some of it, potentially prompting Montreal to offer a first or second-round draft pick in return.
Kent Hughes, the Canadiens' general manager, appears to favor trading draft picks or prospects rather than established players.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 215 pounds, Laine has accumulated 388 points in 480 games with the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets, showcasing significant potential to bolster the team's top-six under Martin St-Louis's leadership.
