He is openly available on the market, and the Blue Jackets along with their new general manager, Don Waddell, are not hiding it.
The Canadiens are frequently mentioned as potential suitors, but Kent Hughes' interest in Laine appears to be rather low, at least not at the price the Jackets are asking, especially if they are unwilling to retain part of his hefty salary.
Aaron Portzline, a journalist well-connected with the Blue Jackets' activities, states that there is little interest from NHL teams in the sniper. Despite the relatively quiet period in the NHL, he notes that the Jackets are not receiving many callbacks.
Kent Hughes is known for his patience in such matters, often waiting until the last minute or even the last second to make the other general manager fold. This might still be his strategy with Patrik Laine.
