Laine's management team has asked for a trade and I take Waddell at his word when he says he has been trying, but I also get the perspective of GM's around the league that aren't going to touch this situation until they can talk to Patrik. Yet Laine continues to sit in the NHL substance abuse/mental health protocol so he is unreachable. The clock is ticking and the NHL has moved past a lot of crucial deadlines as the 31 other teams fill out their rosters. GM DW continues to express optimism but at some point this summer we will reach a point of no return where there will be no landing spot unless the CBJ take back a bad contract or retain a large part of Patrik's salary. (This latter possibility may be a part of the reason the team is unable to buyout Elvis at this time.) The CBJ were never going to get "equal value" in return, but at the same time GM DW is under no obligation to make a bad deal.

As everyone is penciling in lineups for the coming season, it may be premature to overlook the high-scoring Finn. Alternatively, given that PL is stuck, perhaps his people will have to play the "Texier card," agreeing to suspend his NHL contract for a year, so he can show NHL front offices he can still play at a high level, but in a league closer to home.