According to information, Patrik Laine’s contract negotiations have not progressed.
Patrik Laine is still without a contract this summer. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
The Athletic site updated the Columbus Blue Jackets summer news. Finnish hockey fans are especially interested Patrik Laine situation.
The 24-year-old Laine is back without a contract, as she was last summer. In the situation of a limited free agent, Columbus and its GM Jarmo Kekäläinen still has all the trump cards in their hands.
According to Kekäläinen, however, the contract negotiations have not progressed significantly, at least not yet.
– The wave agreement is just one of several things we do. It will probably take some time, Kekäläinen told Athletic.
According to the site, Laine’s team and Columbus have at least been able to discuss different clauses. However, the most significant question is how much Laine will earn in the future and how millions will continue to fit under the salary cap.
– They (Laine and her agent) have their own suggestions and we have our own. The most important thing for us is to get all the players to fit under the payroll so we can build a championship team.
– We respect fair contracts, but players also need to understand that at the same time they need to build a better team around them. That is why compromises often have to be made.
Laine earned $ 7.5 million (approximately $ 7.1 million) from last season.
Kekäläinen’s comment suggests that the compromises would also apply to Laine. If the Finnish paint cannon concludes a one-year contract again, this will of course also be reflected in the amount affecting the salary ceiling. A multi-year agreement, in turn, would allow Columbus to negotiate a salary that leaves room for others in the payroll.
Last season Laine scored 26 + 30 = 56 power points in 56 matches.
Swedish for weightlifting
Kekäläinen’s other gaming movements are also discussed in Athletic’s story. Shops are likely to be coming specifically for the offensive department.
Instead, the defensive situation is more bitter. Jake Bean, Adam Boqvist, Nick Blankenburg and Andrew Peeke are possibly future NHL defenders – but is the time still ripe?
In terms of power, the most interesting case is the Swedish defender Boqvist. The 21-year-old defender has lunch to become the leading puck power pack.
According to Athletic, the physics side should be put on an even better footing. Columbus is said to have put Boqvist on a pound for the summer. Boqvist is expected to weigh 195 pounds (about 88.5 pounds) when the camping for Columbus ’new season begins.
On the team’s website, the Swede is reported to weigh 189 pounds (about 85.7 kilograms).