Canadiens Must Trade Patrik Laine Before 2026 NHL Deadline

Injury-prone winger's big contract makes him a trade asset for cap-strapped Montreal

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Montreal Canadiens are in a playoff position but have little salary cap space to make moves at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. One player they should look to trade is winger Patrik Laine, who has struggled with injuries since being acquired in 2024 and carries an $8.7 million cap hit. Laine's scoring ability on the power play could make him an attractive trade target for contending teams, allowing the Canadiens to free up much-needed cap space.

Why it matters

The Canadiens are in a tight playoff race but have limited financial flexibility to improve their roster. Trading Laine, their highest-paid player, could give them the cap space to add pieces and bolster their chances of making a deep playoff run.

The details

The Canadiens acquired Laine in the summer of 2024, hoping the former 44-goal scorer could provide a scoring boost. However, Laine has played in just 57 of a possible 139 games for Montreal due to injuries. While productive when healthy, Laine's $8.7 million cap hit and unreliable availability make him a difficult player to keep on the roster. The Canadiens will need to get creative to find a trade partner willing to take on Laine's contract.

  • The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is on March 6.
  • Laine has played in just 57 of a possible 139 games since being acquired by the Canadiens in the summer of 2024.

The players

Patrik Laine

A 24-year-old winger who was acquired by the Canadiens in 2024. He is the team's highest-paid player with an $8.7 million cap hit but has struggled with injuries, playing in just 57 of a possible 139 games for Montreal.

Montreal Canadiens

An NHL team that is in a tight playoff race but has limited salary cap space to make moves at the trade deadline.

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What’s next

The Canadiens will need to find a trade partner willing to take on Laine's contract before the March 6 deadline in order to free up cap space to improve their roster for a playoff push.

The takeaway

The Canadiens' inability to rely on Laine due to his injury history, combined with his hefty $8.7 million cap hit, makes him an expendable trade asset that Montreal should look to move before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline in order to create much-needed salary cap flexibility.