Several experts have indeed mentioned that the Montreal Canadiens could be among the teams interested in acquiring the Finnish forward.
However, it seems that Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell hasn't received many offers for the sharpshooter, and it's highly likely that if Laine is traded before the start of the season, the price might not be too high.
Moreover, as reported by the Marqueur site, it appears that Kent Hughes is interested in acquiring Laine, but not at any price.
According to a New York radio host, the Canadiens are interested in Laine, but Kent Hughes has a price in mind that he doesn't want to exceed for this acquisition, so as not to compromise the organization's long-term plan.
It's worth noting that this information is highly credible, as it comes from the same person who announced the hiring of Martin St-Louis and the arrival of Alex Newhook in Montreal.
That said, it seems that the interest in acquiring the Finnish forward isn't there at all across the league due to the fact that Laine has just come out of the NHL, NHLPA's players assistance program and especially because he will be earning $8.7 million for the next two seasons.
As time goes on, the chances of seeing Patrik Laine start the season in Columbus increase, as it's likely that the Blue Jackets organization won't be able to get the price they desire.
Source: Marqueur
On connaît enfin le plan de Kent Hughes avec Patrik Laine grâce à une source
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