As everyone already knows, the next few weeks will be very interesting for the Montreal Canadiens.
However, it is not only at the CH that it risks brewing this summer.
Indeed, several other teams still have big issues to settle or will simply try to seriously improve.
However, if there is a team that is not talked about much that still has serious issues to settle, it is the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Indeed, as reported by the journalist of The AthleticAaron Portzline, Blue Jackets CEO Jarmo Kekalainen will have his work cut out this summer and also in the coming seasons.
The Blue Jackets currently entering a mock reconstruction will have to find an agreement with Patrik Laine, whether it comes down to a contract or a transaction.
The Athletic: #CBJ ready for a big off-season, but Patrik Laine’s contract extension – a big piece of the puzzle – has proven (so far) elusive.
“There’s a lot of time before the season starts.” — Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen https://t.co/yOHSkrdbfj pic.twitter.com/sMWQV6TvJk
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 1, 2022
Last summer, when Laine was looking for a new contract, the Finnish sniper decided to sign his qualifying offer and thus play a season with the Blue Jackets.
Several rumors at the time suggested that Laine didn’t really want to play in Columbus, and therefore wanted to be traded.
Here we are now a little less than a year later, and the Blue Jackets find themselves in much the same situation.
Laine is out of contract, but he remains a restricted free agent for one last time.
If Laine does not have a contract at the end of the next season, he will become a free agent WITHOUT restrictions, and he could thus sign with the team of his choice.
However, what’s different this year and positive for the Blue Jackets is that Laine really seems to have found his feet this season.
Despite an injury that caused him to miss several games, Laine managed to finish the season with 56 points (26 goals and 30 assists) in 56 games.
So he technically had the best season of his career in terms of points per game.
We therefore understand why Kekalainen would very much like to obtain a long-term agreement with Laine. However, will Laine be ready to sign long-term with a team in a mock reconstruction? That’s what we’ll see.
Here are Kekalainen’s comments on the Laine case.
“There is still a long time before the start of the season. If for some reason we can’t find a deal for more than one season, well, we’ll have to make another big decision. – Jarmo Kekalainen
“We have our vision of what is fair (talking about Laine’s next contract). They (Laine’s agents) have their opinion too. Once we find common ground, we will have a contract. However, we must understand that we do not immediately agree on what is fair. – Jarmo Kekalainen
In short, Patrik Laine’s case will clearly be one to watch very closely.
A lot of
– A very good contract for both the Lightning and Paul.
Nick Paul will continue to do it all for #GoBolts after signing long term extension where he truly feels at home “I can’t even count how many people came up to me and thanked me and and congratulated me on the season and then told me they want me to stay”https://t.co/zjJcKJJAJO pic.twitter.com/O3d28V66a2
– Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) July 2, 2022
– A first this season for the Elks.
A first victory for the Elks this seasonhttps://t.co/JSXcc1LFgy
— RDS (@RDSca) July 2, 2022
– Indeed.
“If you wanted to let them go, let them go at the end of the season so then they can get in the mix for other jobs… to me, that’s pretty lousy business.”@EJHradek_NHL | #NHLNow pic.twitter.com/bw3QMNO72X
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 2, 2022
– This is definitely not the Wimbledon we are used to.
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— TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 2, 2022
– She is good.
I swear these are the two photos I’ve seen in every single Rick Bowness social media post today.
Do the Jets think it’s a package deal?#GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/ojIdJBPSEo
— PuckCentral (@PuckCentral) July 2, 2022