Proposal: Laine to Islanders

[majormajor]

Nelson and Wahlstrom for Laine

The Jackets make that deal, I don't know if Nelson does.

Wahlstrom can be released, the only return here as far as the Jackets go is Nelson, who'd be one of our best forwards instantly.

 

[Cowumbus]

Nelson and Wahlstrom for Laine

Would prefer picks instead of Wahlstrom tbh

Nelson would be a great addition.

 

[leeroggy]

Would prefer picks instead of Wahlstrom tbh

Nelson would be a great addition.

Trying to bring the numbers closer together on the cap.

 

[Cowumbus]

Trying to bring the numbers closer together on the cap.

I have an even crazier idea…

It involves Sorokin. That may be a non starter though.

 

[ViD]

Sorokin

He probably asks for a trade this offseason

Very intriguing

I would go Laine + Elvis + sweetener for Sorokin and a cap dump up to $3-4m

 

[Cowumbus]

Very intriguing

I would go Laine + Elvis + sweetener for Sorokin and a cap dump up to $3-4m

I still want Nelson too if possible

Laine + Elvis is 14.1
Sorokin + Nelson is 14.25

Palmieri is the only cap dump with a short deal, and he’s not a bad player.

 

[leeroggy]

I still want Nelson too if possible

Laine + Elvis is 14.1
Sorokin + Nelson is 14.25

Palmieri is the only cap dump with a short deal, and he’s not even that bad of a player.

Interesting way to describe a 30-goal scorer

 

[Cowumbus]

Interesting way to describe a 30-goal scorer

Yeah he’s good! Just older and gets a lot of PP points (ours sucks)

Any player that comes here expect a drop off in production lol

 

[ViD]

I still want Nelson too if possible

Laine + Elvis is 14.1
Sorokin + Nelson is 14.25

Palmieri is the only cap dump with a short deal, and he’s not a bad player.

Columbus will have to add or take a cap dump but I like the framework

 

[Cowumbus]

Columbus will have to add or take a cap dump but I like the framework

CBJ has to add a good piece if that’s the case

 

[Maukkis]

The one thing the Islanders don't need is yet another combination of slow, unmotivated, declining, and overpaid. Incredibly, Laine ticks all four boxes.

And even if they did need it, giving up Sorokin to add Laine... holy mackerel, that would be trash for the Isles.

 

[Xoggz22]

What is the outlook on Laine's latest injury? Is this a recurring serious issue or a random occurence?

He's not injured. He had a few freak injuries and after the last one he needed to focus on his mental health. The reality is, no one knows what his future brings which makes these discussions nearly impossible to be productive.

A healthy Laine has shown he's a PPG on a bad team. It's usually taken him a few games to get going too so if he's right from the start he's likely above PPG. He has his flaws but is well liked in Columbus and has, accoring to what we read, been a great teammate. Even roomed with Fantili to show him the ropes as a high end pick. They lived together in Columbus.

A Laine with reduced desire to play hockey or if viewed as an injury risk carries very little value to an acquiring team (in terms of return to CBJ). His contract is enough that the acquiring team would need to know he's committed to the game and still loves the game. That's just not known right now. And as mentioned above, he may not want to be out of Columbus, or he may.

So many questions that simply can't be answered right now. Add in a new GM... who knows.

 

[Xoggz22]

The one thing the Islanders don't need is yet another combination of slow, unmotivated, declining, and overpaid. Incredibly, Laine ticks all four boxes.

And even if they did need it, giving up Sorokin to add Laine... holy mackerel, that would be trash for the Isles.

Yeah, not really a good description of Laine. He's nearly PPG since coming to CBJ but has had injuries. Want to call him injury prone? fine, but he's not declining when you factor in who he plays for. He has been motivated since coming to Columbus, been a great teammate and even attempted to learn to play center when the team was decimated with injuries. Worked at it. Worked in the offseason. His "unmotivation" right now if frustration from his injuries after putting in the work. He may not want to play anymore (so, sure check that box). For a PPG player he's not overpaid, and he's on a terrible team. Slow? nope. he only looks slow because his long stride and height. Many call him lazy, but that has simply not been the case in Columbus.

So, ultimately, I disagree with your assessment. However, the current mental state will give any team pause and that's the biggest issue.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Sure but in this context Columbus isn't obligated to trade him unless the value is there. My point is Laine can make his request, and if he does Columbus should explore the market, but if the trade isn't there then it's not there and Laine is kinda stuck for the time being. That's part and parcel of making a multi-year contractual commitment without an out clause.

None of this is in dispute. The point being made was literally that if he indicates he’d like a fresh start somewhere else, then the team should consider moving him. Otherwise, it shouldn’t.

 

[Crede777]

None of this is in dispute. The point being made was literally that if he indicates he’d like a fresh start somewhere else, then the team should consider moving him. Otherwise, it shouldn’t.

Agreed. But the point I'm making in response to @majormajor is that where Laine wants to be is not the deciding factor in whether or not he gets traded, instead the value offered by the other team in contrast to Laine's value (as judged by his play and production for the Jackets to this point) would be.

Unless I'm mistaken, the point the Jackets need to make clear is that they, not he, are the arbiters of where he plays in the next 3 years. They can look to trade him if he so desires but a trade request will not, and should not, force their hands.

Basically, the Jackets need to weigh the impact of keeping Laine on the rest of the players versus sending the message of "hey if things get tough you can simply ask for a trade and get out." That, in my opinion, is even more detrimental to the team than having a disgruntled player on the roster.

 

[Maukkis]

Yeah, not really a good description of Laine. He's nearly PPG since coming to CBJ but has had injuries. Want to call him injury prone? fine, but he's not declining when you factor in who he plays for. He has been motivated since coming to Columbus, been a great teammate and even attempted to learn to play center when the team was decimated with injuries. Worked at it. Worked in the offseason. His "unmotivation" right now if frustration from his injuries after putting in the work. He may not want to play anymore (so, sure check that box). For a PPG player he's not overpaid, and he's on a terrible team. Slow? nope. he only looks slow because his long stride and height. Many call him lazy, but that has simply not been the case in Columbus.

So, ultimately, I disagree with your assessment. However, the current mental state will give any team pause and that's the biggest issue.

138 points in 174 games (100 of which are ES points) = 0.79 PPG. Not even close. He pretty much peaked at 20. There has barely been any development in his game: a lot of the same deficiencies that he had with us still persist in his game. He cannot skate, he cannot create chances for himself, he isn't a team player (and this isn't based on being moderately better than a lot of 19-year-olds, this is based on media reports that are posted in Finnish, by people who know a lot more than we do). 8.7 AAV for that? Jarmo was a terrible GM for most of his tenure, but choosing him over Bjorkstrand was a brutal mistake.

To be fair to the guy, you can probably count the people who would have survived the amount of hype, media coverage, and yes men that Laine had while staying 110% focused on improving as a hockey player on one hand - let alone people who, like Laine, weren't truly professional going into it. But however you look at it, a lot of expectations have been missed over the years, and it's starting to become obvious.

 

[Heldig]

Instead of Laine, how about Kyle Connor?

 

[majormajor]

138 points in 174 games (100 of which are ES points) = 0.79 PPG. Not even close. He pretty much peaked at 20. There has barely been any development in his game: a lot of the same deficiencies that he had with us still persist in his game. He cannot skate, he cannot create chances for himself, he isn't a team player (and this isn't based on being moderately better than a lot of 19-year-olds, this is based on media reports that are posted in Finnish, by people who know a lot more than we do).

108 pts in 111 games in the two years prior to this one, when he had a concussion at the start of the season. Those were the best two years of his career. No offense to Winnipeg era Laine but that actually was a lazy kid who couldn't play defense. He has changed his game a lot, that Winnipeg fans wouldn't know about.

 

[OKR]

138 points in 174 games (100 of which are ES points) = 0.79 PPG. Not even close. He pretty much peaked at 20. There has barely been any development in his game: a lot of the same deficiencies that he had with us still persist in his game.

I get that staying up for NHL games is hard to do in Finland, but actually watching the players play the game is extremely helpfull when assessing those said players. If you’ve watched Laine at 20 and now in Columbus, and this is your takeaway from it, then maybe you should just enjoy the game as a fan and leave assessing players to people with at least some idea how to do so.

I get that Laine has major weaknesses in his game, but he has been PPG player for Columbus when healthy while playing best overall game of his career, to say ”there has been barely any development in his game” is just so blatantly wrong that your argument loses all it’s credibility.

 

[miscs75]

Not interested as an Islanders fan until he can prove he’s overcame all his mental health issues. Even then he’d have to prove he can play away from the puck and cares more about the game than Fortnite.

 

[Xoggz22]

Not interested as an Islanders fan until he can prove he’s overcame all his mental health issues. Even then he’d have to prove he can play away from the puck and cares more about the game than Fortnite.

You need to get to the present. Watch the last two years with CBJ. His game is very different. If you want to knock him for anything is that he continues to carry the puck too much and turns it over at both blue lines. If he moved the puck faster he'd get it back. That's his major flaw at this point

 

[miscs75]

You need to get to the present. Watch the last two years with CBJ. His game is very different. If you want to knock him for anything is that he continues to carry the puck too much and turns it over at both blue lines. If he moved the puck faster he'd get it back. That's his major flaw at this point

The Isles have Barzal to do that, Laine would be more of the same.

 

[islesfan3913]

Sorokin

He probably asks for a trade this offseason

Why in the world would he ask for a trade? I swear some of you pay no attention to situations outside of your own teams before saying stuff like this. The only reason Varlamov started over Sorokin at the end of the season and into the playoffs is because we were trying to fight for a playoff spot and went with the hot goalie who also happens to be of starting caliber. He’s pretty much locked in to get another 50-60+ starts next season.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Why in the world would he ask for a trade? I swear some of you pay no attention to situations outside of your own teams before saying stuff like this. The only reason Varlamov started over Sorokin at the end of the season and into the playoffs is because we were trying to fight for a playoff spot and went with the hot goalie who also happens to be of starting caliber. He’s pretty much locked in to get another 50-60+ starts next season.

Maybe Sorokin actually wants to play the Playoff games? Regardless, I don't see too much disgruntle there but you never know.