The Columbus Blue Jackets have moved on from Patrik Laine.
The club is sending the star forward, who requested a trade in June, along with a 2026 second-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris.
The trade satisfies Laine's request for a change of scenery while bolstering the Jackets' young defensive core.
As part of the trade, the Blue Jackets will not retain any salary — something that seemed increasingly unlikely as the summer went on but is a big win for Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell.
We have acquired defenseman Jordan Harris from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Patrik Laine and a 2026 2nd round draft pick.
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 19, 2024
https://t.co/uT3dtFojkO@RuoffMortgage | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/2f8BeW1htd
"We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him," said Waddell. "We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal, which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best."
Laine, who arrived in Columbus with high expectations, has shown flashes of his elite goal-scoring ability but struggled with consistency and injuries during his time with the Blue Jackets. While Laine’s offensive prowess is undeniable – when he’s on his game, he’s one of the most lethal snipers in the NHL – he never quite found his groove with the Blue Jackets.
He played in just 18 games in the 2023-24 season, scoring six goals and adding three assists in 18 games. Laine spent the second half of the season in the players assistance program, being cleared at the end of July.
For his career with the Blue Jackets, Laine finishes at 64 goals and 74 assists in 174 games.
Harris is a 24-year-old defenseman who has eight goals and 24 assists in 131 games. He has shown steady development since being drafted by Montreal in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft, and is known for his smooth skating, strong hockey IQ, and ability to make smart, responsible plays in his own zone.
If he pans out, Harris has the potential to grow into a top-four blueliner, providing Columbus with an even more solid foundation on their back end for years to come. The Massachusetts native is slightly undersized for a defenseman, coming in at 5'11" and 190lbs.
Harris has a cap hit of $1.4 million dollars this season and will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2025 with arbitration rights.
