Laine has been sent to Montreal in a surprising twist of events

The trade sent shockwaves down the league as many NHL enthusiasts did not foresee this coming, especially in the early stages of the offseason. It's quite the twist that it is Patrik Laine who ended up in Montreal and not Pierre-Luc Dubois.

As many fans know by now, Pierre-Luc Dubois was traded to the Washington Capitals by the Los Angeles Kings for goalie Darcy Kuemper. Dubois was acquired by the Kings from the Winnipeg Jets on June 27, 2023, and immediately signed an eight-year, $68 million contract ($8.5 million AAV) that runs through the 2030-31 season. A huge risk taken by the Washington Capitals to say the least.

The NHL can be a funny league at times. Montreal was the one destination Pierre-Luc Dubois made clear he wanted to go. But now, It's former Winnipeg Jet Patrik Laine who will be looking to revitalize his career in Habs Nation.

The Montreal Canadiens are also taking a huge gamble in regards to signing Laine. the Blue Jackets were able to accommodate Patrik Laine's trade request, moving the winger to Montreal along with a 2026 second-round pick in exchange for Jordan Harris. With no salary retention on either player in the swap, Columbus opened up $7.3MM in extra cap room.

The moral of the article is that the NHL can be a very confusing league. Pierre-Luc Dubois is a native from Quebec who speaks french fluently. Patrik Laine on the other hand, will have a very difficult time embracing life in his new francophone city. Both Dubois and Laine have had reported "locker room cancer" issues, and both players arguably have the same offensive upside. In addition to that, PLD and Laine had similar cap hits.

So why did the Canadiens take a gamble on Laine and not Dubois? The story is a compelling one which will spark conversation in the league for years to come.

Source: NHL - Pro Hockey Rumors
Laine Trade Could Make Blue Jackets A Cap-Clearing Broker
Dubois traded to Capitals by Kings for Kuemper