Patrik Laine Heads to Montreal in Trade
After nearly a year of challenges on and off the ice, Patrick Lane is ready for a fresh start.
Lane was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday along with a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Jordan Harris. The move comes after he broke his collarbone last December and then spent six months in the league’s player assistance program to address his mental health issues.
“When you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, you’re probably not going to be able to perform, and that’s where I was,” Lane said in a video call with media from Florida. “I haven’t been enjoying myself for a while, but now I’m off the ice, obviously happier than ever.
I’ve done a lot of work on myself to get me back to the point where I’m excited to play in a new place, with new teammates, in a new city.”
Lane broke his collarbone on Dec. 14, then suffered an undisclosed setback in his recovery from the injury on Jan. 27. He entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program the next day, said on social media that he wanted to prioritize his mental health, and was cleared to return on July 26.
I’ve learned a lot of things these past two years, and now is a really good time to try them,” he said. “I’m more prepared than ever.”
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said his organization has fully evaluated Lane’s health and off-ice issues. Hughes added that Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell and Lane were open with the Montreal front office about everything and he appreciated their candor.
We left the conversation very satisfied. We’ve done a lot of other homework,” Hughes said. They were kind. Let us talk and consult the medical file and just communicate what we feel we need to be comfortable moving forward.”
Lane had six goals and three assists in 18 games before being sidelined with injury and mental health issues last season with Columbus. The six-foot-five, 215-pound winger has appeared in 480 regular-season games over eight NHL seasons with the Winnipeg Jets and Blue Jackets, scoring 204 goals and adding 184 assists.
Still absolutely ripping the puck, so no issues there,” said Lane, who was recently cleared to skate. “Overall the body feels good. Still, of course, there’s still a month left in camp. Plenty of time to make some adjustments.
No concerns with the body whatsoever, and with the mind. So feel like I’m in a really, really good place as a whole package.
Lane, from Tampere, Finland, was drafted second overall by the Jets in 2016. He helped Finland win the World Junior Championship in Helsinki that year with seven goals and six assists in seven games, in addition to being named a tournament All-Star. The team
He said he is eager to follow in the footsteps of Finnish hockey legend Sako Koivu, who captained the Canadians for 10 years.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do as well as he did, but I’m going to try my best to be as good as he was in Montreal,” Lane said.
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Lane signed a US$34.8 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets on July 22, 2022. Although Lane has surpassed captain Nick Suzuki as Montreal’s highest-paid player, Hughes said he won’t have that with two years remaining on his contract. A significant impact on the salary range of Canadians.
“There are a lot of things that go into the salary structure, whether it’s negotiated by us or an agreement that was reached,” Hughes said, noting that Lane has his own non-trade on the swap. The clause was not to be omitted.
Harris, 24, had three goals, 11 assists and a minus-5 plus/minus in 56 games with Montreal last season. Harris has eight goals and 23 assists in 131 games over three seasons with the Habs.
