The Capitals have draft capital and could make room for Laine, but would the move pay off?
The Washington Capitals have had a busy summer that's seen them overhaul a third of their roster while bringing in more names to help bolster the offense. But could they have another move up their sleeve with Patrik Laine's asking price changing?
Per The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, Laine has been cleared by the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, and the Columbus Blue Jackets' asking price has also changed, as Portzline also noted to TSN that the team is looking for prospects or draft picks rather than roster players in exchange for the Finnish winger.
Washington has draft capital, with two second-round and two fifth-round selections in next year's draft. The team also has a considerable amount of rising talent, which helped lead the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup titles.
That said, should D.C. consider making a move for Laine?
The Capitals are entering the season with high hopes after averaging the fifth-least goals per game last year and going through an offseason of change. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jakob Chychrun and more have joined the mix to solve the goal-scoring problem, and Laine would certainly bring more firepower.
Laine has six 20-goal seasons, including three 30-goal campaigns, under his belt, and the 6-foot-5 sniper has also showcased his wicked shot and scoring prowess over his time with the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets. It's no secret that there's talent there; it just comes down to consistency.
That's been the main issue, as he's dealt with his share of struggles. He hasn't played more than 56 games in a season over the last four years while dealing with injuries and illness. He also carries a cap hit of $8.7 million, so it wouldn't be a cheap gamble.
For Washington, though, gambles are the name of the game going into the year. The team is rolling the dice on Dubois and also took chances on Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano, who have both fit in well with D.C. Taking a chance on Laine could prove to be a big payoff, especially with Alex Ovechkin entering the twilight of his career and the team needing another pure goal scorer on the wing.
The Capitals also face uncertainty with T.J. Oshie's playing status up in the air for 2024-25. Laine could fill a major void that would be left by 77, who has played pivotal roles on the top-6 and power play over the course of his time in the District.
There's cap space to be made, too, as putting Oshie on long-term injured reserve with Nicklas Backstrom would allow D.C. to go over while Evgeny Kuznetsov's $3.9 million is no longer on the books following his contract termination.
Still, taking a chance on Laine would be a bold move for new general manager Chris Patrick, but if the price is right, it may just be worth it as D.C. has to consider the future and establish a new core.
