CBJ doesn't do that

That seems pretty lopsided in Winnipeg's favor

Take out bemstrom and the first and cbj doesn't do it still.

Get real Laine = Luc Dubois. Bernstrom+Columbus 2021 1st round pick > Copp.

Dubois > Laine because he's a more complete player with a more favorable contract who plays a more valuable position.

Any WPG deal for PLD would have to be centered around Connor imo.

What an odd statement. Connor and Laine are both wingers and both them aren’t 200 ft players “complete”. So I’m not sure why you would shoot down Laine for Connor. If anything I’d think Laine would fit Tort’s system better.

Agree to disagree on stylistic fit – the biggest reason why CBJ would prefer Connor (or perhaps even Ehlers) to Laine is term.

So that’s why your initial comment is odd. You talked about him being worth less because he wasn’t a complete 200ft player (Connor isn’t either) and him being a winger (same with Connor). You never once mentioned term as a reason and Laine will be an RFA so it’s not like he can exactly just walk away if tendered. Laine made improvements this last year defensively (still not great but serviceable) and can still develop into a modern day power forward which I think would do well in Tort’s system. You can want Connor more for whatever reason but I was merely stating your comment is odd and that it doesn’t make sense.

Columbus has clearly had an issue with contract negotiations for players entering RFA with regards to locking them up long-term. They just went through this song and dance with Dubois, no reason to take on an asset that requires repeating that process in Laine.

It's not about the player fit, it's about the asset fit and adding some stability.

Which is why I initially commented. In your initial comment you don’t call out players being signed long-term or that Columbus has had issues with RFAs (really only one so far is PLD recently). There is also no issue with a player not reporting until a new contract is given (it would be actually out of the norm).