Canadiens Give Patrik Laine Camp Permission to Talk To Other Teams

Patrik Laine's days in Montreal are coming to an end. This has become obvious in recent days, as the Canadiens try desperately to get his $8.7 million cap cap hit off their books. In fact, it's gotten to the point now, says insider Pierre LeBrun, that they have given the Laine camp permission to talk directly to other teams to try to arrange for a deal.

Pierre Lebrun on RDS says that the Habs have given permission to Patrik Laine’s agent to directly talk to teams around the NHL.

He also says that it’s very positive between Habs management and Patrik Laine’s camp. If the Canadiens are able to trade Laine, they will. pic.twitter.com/OxMfZBArTQ
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 26, 2026

LeBrun added that the relationship is still very good between the two sides, and they will continue to communicate on this and work together to get something done. "It sounds as though everyone involved is working in concert on that front," he said.

Laine hasn't played since mid-October, going down in the team's fifth game to a core muscle injury that required surgery. And while he's close to a return, it won't be in the Habs' forward group. They have a lot of bodies that emerged as legit pieces in the time that Laine was gone, and the only thing that is really missing is a winger to play on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. That would not be a fit for Laine. But using the savings from shipping him out could help in that regard.

Montreal has the ability to retain on some of that $8.7 million, as they have all of their retention slots available. The hit wouldn't be too bad, as the deal expires at the end of this season, so the retention wouldn't be a long-term thing.

The 6'4" Finnish forward had a nice 20-goal campaign in his Canadiens debut last season, but at this point, coming off a four-and-a-half-month absence, he's been passed by many others in the Habs' lineup.