New Jersey Devils: 4 Trade Proposals For Patrik Laine

The Winnipeg Jets may be looking to shake things up and move out some cap space. With big money locked up long term on forwards Blake Wheeler, Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Nikolaj Ehlers to the combined number of $27.4 million it might make Finnish sniper Patrik Laine available. His contract is up in 2021-22 and he will likely be wanting a raise from his current $6.75 million deal. This could be a good deal for the New Jersey Devils.

Laine is the definition of a pure goal scorer and he might have the best shot in the league after Alex Ovechkin. In his four year career, he has managed to net 138 goals in 305 games, just shy of a goal every second game. Any hockey fan can tell you how invaluable it is to have a real sniper on your team who in clutch moments can score that desperately needed goal and is always a threat on the ice. Defenders need to always watch players like this causing them to cheat coverage on others leaving them open for better opportunities.

The Devils are desperate for someone other than Kyle Palmieri who can shoot the puck. Some games it really felt like the whole team was pass-first players. Laine is only 22 years old and fits the window for success for this franchise. Another added bonus is Laine’s size. At 6’5, Laine is a big body to mix into our smaller players fixing another problem the Devils currently face. Putting him on the second line and wing of Jack Hughes would give us a line that can grow together and devastate opponents for a decade so here are some packages that might entice the Winnipeg Jets who are looking for cheaper options as well as a more win-now mentality.