Many teams have been interested in trading for Patrik Laine, with the Carolina Hurricanes being the most recent front runners who came close to acquiring Laine at the draft, however those talks quickly died down a few days later.
It appears that the Montreal Canadiens are now the front runners to land Laine, as reports are surfacing stating that Habs GM Kent Hughes is only one small issue away from being able to agree on a deal with Columbus. It is believed that the Habs would be sending quite the return to the Blue Jackets, but overall, this trade would benefit both teams in addressing immediate needs.
The Habs struggled mightily last year at times to produce consistent offense, and Columbus has been at the bottom of the standings for many years, really affecting Laine from flourishing. Should this trade officially be completed, both teams would have a lot of their problems solved for next season.