Is Laine a risk worth taking

Team: 2023-24 Anaheim Ducks

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 26, 2024

Published: Jan. 26, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

To start with, not considering the trade cost nor cap, opening this for a discussion amongst Anaheim fans.

Anaheims had a need for goal scoring forwards for several years now, even looking back to the dying days of our playoff window prior to the rebuild, and while some have grown internally (Terry) and some have been brought in (Gauthier) we're still thin at the position. Given Laines injury history, it's unlikely a competitor is going to take on his contract having to worry if he's going to spend half of each season on IR. So that only leaves other teams in a rebuild or on the rise.

Detroit could be a match, but they are much tighter to the salary cap and have Debrincat. Buffalo seems to have plenty of offensive firepower, but needs drastic improvements in their defensive game. Pitt could attempt a hail Mary, but maybe could resign Guentzel for the money. Sharks are still in teardown mode and wouldn't want the salary on their books. Nashville needs scoring but has a ton of guys to resign, Chicago may want to give Bedard someone to play with, Arizona may want to bring in a higher profile player. Seattle is probably the only other team I could see taking the shot on him, as they need scoring too.

Probably has to be a hockey trade, as almost everyone would need to send something back, and I think CBJ is loaded up with picks and prospects at the moment, good veteran presence seems to be more the need, so Strome would probably be the piece from Anaheim if Verbeek were to look at making a deal.

Really don't think CBJ can command much at this point, Lines got a big cap hit, a long history of injury and malcontent, and he's a long way away from his 40 goal season. Anyone who takes him on is assuming a lot of risk.