Patrik Laine: The PERFECT Fit for the Flyers
Anyone who watched the Philadelphia Flyers lose to the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals in 7 games this past season will tell you: The Flyers need MORE goal scoring.
The Flyers beat the Canadiens and took the Islanders to 7 games by basically riding their 21 (now 22) year old superstar goaltender, Carter Hart. However, if they want to compete and be perennial Cup contenders and be considered one of the “big boys” in the tough Eastern Conference, scoring opportune goals is a must. Now, the Flyers appear to be set down the middle. With Couturier and Hayes, their top two centermen are set. Add an up-and-coming Morgan Frost, a hopefully fully healthy Nolan Patrick and guys like Giroux and Laughton who can both play the position, and a possible return of Tyler Pitlik (which I’d love to see), there isn’t much room at center.
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How good would a top-notch scoring winger look in this Flyers line-up? Imagine the Flyers playing the Islanders in the playoffs but with an Ovechkin type, goal-scoring winger on the top line with a guy like Giroux feeding him? Dropping 24 goal scorer Travis Konecny down to second-line wing? I salivate at the thought.
But guys like Ovechkin aren’t usually available unless your drafting in the top 2 or 3 spots, you say? Or are they…?
Well, reports out of Winnipeg are that the Jets are looking at different options in order to fill multiple holes in their line-up. Multiple sources have suggested that the Jets are willing to entertain the idea of trading Patrik Laine if the right deal is available. This is where GM Chuck Fletcher and the Philadelphia Flyers must strike. Former GM Ron Hextall left the team in a PERFECT situation in order to pull off such a trade. Through GREAT drafting, even in the later rounds, the Flyers are blessed with an abundance of young players who are now on the verge of being NHL ready, and others who are already there. Problem is, there are only so many players you can have on your roster and they can’t all make the team and play. Some will have to be, very strategically, moved out. So, when you’re in that type of situation and a guy like Laine potentially becomes available, you need to pounce.
22-year-old Patrik Laine is the type of guy you make sure you get when he becomes available. The 6’5” Right Winger is already an NHL proven sniper. Laine has scored 138 goals in 305 career games played and hasn’t missed a game due to injury in the last 3 seasons. He immediately pushes the Flyers to a top 6 or 7 powerplays in the NHL.
Laine in a Flyers uniform is a no-brainer.
So, what would it take for the Flyers to get such a prolific young goal scorer?
Remember that the Jets also will not want, as much as possible to take on any salary. As mentioned, the Jets are looking to fill multiple holes in their line-up, with the biggest one being on defense. They’re also going to want to replace some of the goal-scoring that they will lose when they remove Laine from their line-up. Enter the Flyers.
First off, the Jets will want some kind of name coming back the other way, so they can sell the trade of Laine to their fans. That name may very well be Shane Gostisbehere. Ghost is definitely a guy who needs a change of scenery and we all know he can be an offensive juggernaut. He’s the name. But Ghost alone won’t get it done.
This is purely my idea, but this is the trade proposal I would offer the Jets if I were Chuck Fletcher, which I think would get a deal done for Laine.
Flyers receive:
- Forward Patrik Laine
Jets receive:
- Defensemen Shane Gostisbehere, Mark Freidman, and the rights to Adam Ginning
- Forwards: Michael Raffl, Tanner Laczynski, and Bobby Brink OR Nolan Patrick
- 2020 1st round pick
Now before you jump out of your seat and crucify me, remember that you gotta give something to get something. In this deal, the Jets fill 3 immediate holes. Ghost and Freidman fill two spots on their depleted blue line. Raffl takes up penalty-killing duties away from their big boys, while Laczynski and Ginning look to have bright NHL futures and will crack their lineup in the not too distant future. And the 1st round pick is always a must in these types of trades. Winnipeg would get a real good prospect here, all while saving on their salary cap.
Now, I would give the option to the Jets of either Bobby Brink OR Nolan Patrick. NOT BOTH.
Brink brings with him a ton of potential goal scoring in a year or two, however, the idea of having Winnipeg born Nolan Patrick on your roster may be the extra incentive for Jets management. That’s an easy sell to their fans.
Now, I said either-or, since they may shy away from Nolan Patrick due to the concerns of his migraine disorder, in which case I offer up a really good scoring prospect. With reports suggesting that The New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Montreal Canadiens all being rumored as interested, getting Laine becomes all that more important for the Flyers as they would keep him away from their competitors as well.
I set the groundwork for you.
NOW: GET IT DONE, CHUCKY!
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