COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets have made a significant trade, sending forward Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris and a second-round draft pick in 2026.

Laine, a 26-year-old forward, was unavailable for much of the 2023-24 season as he sought help from the NHL’s player assistance program for mental health-related issues. After being cleared in July, Laine expressed his desire for a change of scenery, leading to the trade.

General manager Don Waddell commented on the trade, stating, “We want players that want to be Blue Jackets, and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him. We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal, which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best.”

During his time with the Blue Jackets, Laine scored 64 goals and tallied 74 assists in 174 games, including two 20-goal seasons. The 24-year-old Harris, on the other hand, has eight goals and 24 assists in 131 career games with Montreal.

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