Fixing Patrik Laine: Scribe Suggests Odd Trade to Capitals

Recent performances have seen the Blue Jackets slump again. With that slump, Laine’s playing style remains a question mark. His absence in a 7-3 loss to the New York Islanders, due to illness, added to a year filled with setbacks. Hockey analysts have been dissecting Laine’s performance in an attempt to put a finger on what’s wrong. Where did the exuberant player reminiscent of his early days with the Winnipeg Jets go? Duhatschek asked why has the almost-Ovechkin-like confidence he once exuded in scoring goals vanished?

Patrik Laine Needs a Massive Change… But Washington?

Duhatschek asks, “Could landing in Washington, as potentially Ovechkin’s successor, be the change of venue that he needs? Hard to say. Maybe it would.”

It’s an interesting question that sort of comes out of nowhere. First, why would the Capitals be interested? They’ve got some room as a team on LTIR, but Laine holds a massive contract at $8.7 million for two more seasons. Second, if they are interested, why as Ovechkin’s successor?

While both men are goal scorers (well, they are supposed to be), wouldn’t putting them on the same team to play at the same time be something that could benefit them both? Would they not motivate each other? Ovechkin has two more years on his deal at $9.5 million per season. He’s not going anywhere and the Caps want to get the most out of those two seasons he’s got remaining. He’s chasing Gretzky’s goal-scoring record, but struggling this season with only five goals. He too could use a jolt.

The prospect of a change in scenery for Laine makes sense, but he needs someone to play with that will get him on the right track again. Ovechkin needs someone to wake him up. Even if Duhatschek is suggesting Laine joins now and then stays when Ovechkin leaves, it’s not clear that these two can really help each other out. Since neither is a set-up man, it’s like mixing oil and water. So too, it doesn’t seem logical that Washington would view Laine as someone to take over the goal-scoring role for The Great 8 in a couple of years time. In a couple of years, Laine may really be struggling and his confidence completely gone.

What the Capitals need right now is a partner for Ovechkin. What Laine needs is a motivational set-up man to get him going.