It’s common knowledge around the NHL at this point that the Montreal Canadiens would like to move on from Patrik Laine and his $8.7 million cap hit that expires after this season. His spot in the lineup has been usurped by others over the past four months that he’s been out.Â
There have been several teams linked to the seven-time 20-goal scorer, including the Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes and others. But we can now scratch one team that was sniffing around off the list, according to Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period.
Trade deadline update:
As the Kings explore the market for a top-six forward, I can confirm they spoke with Montreal about Patrik Laine. However, there doesn’t seem to be a fit right now and Kings are now looking elsewhere.
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) February 24, 2026
Bernstein writes that the Los Angeles Kings, who are certainly looking for a top-six forward at the deadline, did speak to the Habs about a potential Laine trade. But “there doesn’t seem to be a fit right now and (the) Kings are now looking elsewhere.”
The Kings do have over $12.6 million in cap space, so there’s enough room to bring in a contract of Laine’s size, but it’s a hefty cap price to pay for a player who’s only played five games this season, and not a single one for four months. Last season wasn’t especially world-beating, either. He did make it to 20 goals in his first year in Montreal, but his 33 total points were his lowest in a season in his career, save for his 46-game season in the pandemic campaign of 2020-21.Â
The Kings made a big splash already, bringing in Artemi Panarin in a trade with the NY Rangers earlier this month. But then they watched as their third-leading scorer Kevin Fiala was lost for the season with an injury during the Olympics.Â
Sitting at 28th in the NHL in goals per game, the Kings are desperate to make another top-six addition. It just won’t be Patrik Laine, apparently.
Photo: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images