On Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets completed a significant trade, sending forward Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris. To gauge how this trade stacks up in the virtual world, we ran a simulation using NHL 24’s Franchise Mode.

Trade Breakdown:

    Columbus Blue Jackets: Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick
    Montreal Canadiens: Jordan Harris

The inclusion of the second-round pick was crucial for Montreal, as it helped offset the $8.7 million salary cap hit of Laine, which is set to run through the 2025-26 season.

Laine's Background:
Patrik Laine, a three-time 30-goal scorer, had requested a trade from the Blue Jackets after a mixed four-season tenure in Columbus. Montreal, leveraging their depth in defensive prospects, saw an opportunity to acquire a high-upside forward.

NHL 24 Simulation Results:
In the NHL 24 simulation, the results of the trade varied depending on the team initiating the proposal:

    As Columbus: When we proposed the deal from the Blue Jackets' perspective, the Canadiens accepted immediately, expressing that their fans would be thrilled with the trade. The game indicated a favorable outcome for Montreal in this scenario.

    As Montreal: Conversely, when proposing the deal from the Canadiens' side, the Blue Jackets were resistant to trading Laine. Attempts to trade Harris straight up for Laine were met with firm rejection.

The simulation in NHL 24 does not factor in Laine’s trade request or Columbus' need to manage salary cap implications. However, it is evident from the game’s response that Montreal is perceived as the winner of this trade.

The NHL 24 simulation suggests that Montreal benefits significantly from this trade, reflecting the high value placed on Patrik Laine despite the salary considerations. While the game does not consider off-ice factors like trade requests or financial constraints, it clearly views the Canadiens' acquisition of Laine as a win.

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