Report Red Wings Closing Secret Deal To Sign Blue Jackets MVP In A Blockbuster Trade

Patrik Laine, a forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, is being pursued by the Detroit Red Wings.

The Finnish forward has asked for another fresh start, and the Blue Jackets brass is eager to help, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

Laine was selected with the second overall choice in the 2016 NHL Draft. He has already played for the Blue Jackets and the Winnipeg Jets, and if Evan Sabourin of The Hockey Writers had his way, Detroit might be Laine’s next stop.

Sabourin made a pitch to the Red Wings about a possible package that would lure Columbus in a Laine trade. To make it work for all parties, he added a draft selection and a few players.

Sabourin writes, “My proposal: William Wallinder, Jonatan Berggren, and a future third-round pick.” “A fit, composed Laine could be extremely important to the Red Wings’ rebuild.”

Since joining the league, Laine has battled injuries and inconsistent play, and after his sophomore season, he’s been declining.

Laine’s availability on the trade market coincides with Detroit’s demand for elite players, which might present the winger with a fresh opportunity to excel and reach his full potential. In his debut season, Laine scored 36 goals and 28 assists. In his second season, he scored 44 goals and 26 assists. But after being traded from Winnipeg to Columbus in the 2020–21 season, his output obviously declined.