Latest news regarding Patrik Laine could indirectly impact the Maple Leafs

A Boston Bruins insider has suggested that the club could be looking at acquiring Patrik Laine, which could have an indirect impact on the Maple Leafs.

The Blue Jackets and superstar forward Patrik Laine came to a mutual agreement earlier in the summer that a trade would be best for both parties. Since then rumours have gone relatively quiet with the exception of Montreal Canadiens fans proposing trade ideas on Twitter for the disgruntled goal scorer.

However, Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe pondered on the idea of the Bruins potentially being a fit for the 26-year-old sniper. The fit is undeniable, and could really help the Bruins to challenge for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

Drafted with the 2nd overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft - one pick after Auston Matthews - Laine has had a stop-and-go career, especially since 2020-21. Hampered by injuries, the Finnish forward has only suited up for 175 games in the last 4 seasons but has still shown his proclivity to produce, even in downtrodden offenses.

For his career, Laine has 204 goals and 388 points in 480 games across 8 seasons. He came out of the gates with a bang as he scored 36 goals in his rookie year to which he followed it up with a 44-goal sophomore season and then his third straight 30-goal season in 2018-19. Despite the injuries over the last 4 seasons, he has still managed 66 goals and 141 points with the Blue Jackets and the Winnipeg Jets.

The Bruins are always looking for offensive upgrades and with Jake DeBrusk finding greener pastures in Vancouver this summer, they could look for his replacement through the trade market, however salary cap remains an issue. They have $8.6 million in open cap space right now but still need to come to terms on a new deal with restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Laine's $8.7 million dollar cap could prohibit a deal if the Blue Jackets don't agree to retain 50%. Even then, the Bruins would have to move out some money to make room for a Swayman contract.

If the Bruins find a way to ensnare his services for the next 2 seasons, that could provide the Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the Atlantic Division with another formidable threat. To be able to add him into the fray alongside Elias Lindholm, David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Pavel Zacha, and Charlie Coyle, it would give the Bruins their most potent top-6 formation in quite some time. Add him to their power play with Charlie McAvoy quarterbacking and the Bruins would have two lethal one-time options with Pastrnak on the opposite flank to Laine.

The Bruins are not the only potential suitors for Laine, as the Minnesota Wild are also believed to be interested.

Source for Patrik Laine's statistics: Hockey-ReferencePatrik Laine stats and bio

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