The Seattle Kraken should not trade for 26-year-old Finnish sniper and former 2nd overall pick of the Jets (2016) Patrik Laine. It’s not the type of upgrade they need. The concept almost reeks of desperation for a player who carries big question marks. He also carries an $8.7-million per season price tag and a modified no-trade clause for two more years. Even if the Columbus Blue Jackets were to carry and eat something like 40% of that salary, which Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell says he’s not a fan of doing, it’s not a deal Seattle needs to make.
The Kraken don’t need question marks. They don’t need another injury prone player, the likes of Andre Burakovsky. In Laine’s case, he just did, or soon will be coming out of the NHL player assistance program for whatever demons he’s battling.
Yes, every player, everyone, deserves a second, third or even a fourth chance, regardless of their personal matters, but the Kraken aren’t the team to give it to him. Let someone else roll the dice for an inconsistent player who over the last four seasons has missed 11, 26, 27, and 64 games respectively, dating back to the Covid-shortened 2020-’21 campaign.
Laine could turn out just fine and provide an NHL team with elite skill and shooting ability off the wing. There is definitely upside. But he could also disappoint, and the Kraken are in no position to take that chance. If they’re building their core, and it doesn’t work out, then guess what? They’re not building their core.
What Seattle needs is another player with the dedication and attitude of a Yanni Gourde, but with a hell of a lot more skill. If you’re gonna spend the big bucks, spend it on a very talented, reliable, tenacious veteran. At this point, without regurgitating all of his history in Winnipeg and Columbus, Laine ain’t it.
Earlier Kraken:
— The Kraken’s Top Need At The 2024 NHL Draft
