The new GM in Columbus (Davidson) takes that and runs.

I'm not sure MTL trades for him with the lack of games and the players assistant program stuff going on.

2 years left at 8.7m? For a guy who may well have personality issues, and certainly has effort ones? No thanks. We have enough awful contracts, we don't need another.

Drop the 2nd to a 3rd and replace Laine with Kent Johnson, or maybe Kirill Marchenko. Then we can talk.

I don’t think Laine’s mental health struggles should be described as “personality issues,” and he has not shown effort issues in Columbus. If anything he’s tried to do too much, resulting in bad choices with the puck. He played better defense than he ever did in Winnipeg and busted his ass in the off-seasons. The injuries are another matter.

Who says no? If not Montreal, then maybe just Laine.

from player assistance to ... more player assistance right after going out downtown.

I think with Laine's current situation and cap hit, its probably a player and mid pick. maybe like Dvorak retained + 2nd or something like that

Drop the retention on Dvorak and maybe it'd be worth trying. But I don't see Laine being a fit on the culture HuGo are trying to build in Mtl.

Can we have Kent Johnson instead? Or Marchenko?

Hopefully the Habs.

No and no.