Joined: Sep. 2018
Posts: 2,509
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The short, curt answer: what would you give up to acquire a top-line forward? That's what Columbus is looking for.
The longer, detailed answer: Columbus doesn't have any incentive to move him for less than a stellar package. We (like Montreal) are looking for top-end talent, we (like Montreal) have plenty of picks and prospects, but could look to package those for upgrades, and we (like Montreal) are looking to crack our compete window open within the next 2-3 years. It's true of other trades, but Columbus and Montreal aren't good trade partners for those reasons; anything you need, we need; anything you want, we want; if someone was constantly inquiring about Caulfield or Slaf, what would you tell them?
The realistic answer: Laine isn't available, unless you're putting together a good package with heavy conditions to upgrade picks. The best I've seen today from Montreal (lord knows there's been dozens of them) was Beck, Mesar and a 2025 2nd that upgrades to a 2025 1st if, for example, Laine plays 60 games or scores 30 goals. Even that likely falls short.