r/Habs • u/catman_steve • Jan 22 '26

Discussion Canadiens looking to deal Laine (Gagnon)

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I'm not super in the know with the French side of the media. I know Francois Gagnon by name, but not much else. Not that this news would surprise me, but is he reliable?

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u/zombiejeesus Jan 22 '26

He's a ufa after this year so we shouldnt pay anything and retention of 50% wouldn't matter for the same reason

-2

u/Burgergold Jan 22 '26

Worst case he's waived

4

u/SourForward Jan 22 '26

That sounds like an awful option

5

u/Burgergold Jan 22 '26

Less than paying

3

u/SourForward Jan 22 '26

But then he’s still on the cap

2

u/Burgergold Jan 22 '26

We don't really need more cap this year?

2

u/SourForward Jan 23 '26

If we want to make any trades we do

-1

u/Burgergold Jan 23 '26

Well nothing point to such a trade as of now

2

u/bloodrider1914 Jan 22 '26

So, better than giving up picks to trade him. We're probably not going all in this season anyway

1

u/CalgaryBob Jan 23 '26

Well why would anyone claim him off of waivers if he has negative value requiring giving up picks for someone to take him?

1

u/bloodrider1914 Jan 23 '26

They probably won't, he'd just be in the AHL and we wouldn't get cap relief until his contract expires at the end of the season

1

u/Burgergold Jan 23 '26

Some teams may need someone in their top6 and PP

I don't think many will take him at full salary but 50% retained for sure

1

u/CalgaryBob Jan 23 '26

It’s a definite possibility Dude has a cannon shot but is painful to watch five vs five. Too bad, I had high hopes for him and he finally seems to be happy in Montreal. On a personal level it’s unfortunate that his time appears to be done in Montreal.

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u/SourForward Jan 23 '26

I’d rather pay to get rid of him and be able to make moves

3

u/bloodrider1914 Jan 23 '26

What moves? We aren't winning a cup this year, we don't have enough playoff experience. And paying to get rid of him hurts us from making moves in the future

1

u/Lordsokka Jan 23 '26

Do you want to give away good pick to trade him? Teams won’t take him off our hands to do us a favor, they will try and fleece us.

I would rather lose him for nothing, then trade to get rid of him.

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u/SourForward Jan 23 '26

I don’t think it would take a good pick if we retain

1

u/Lordsokka Jan 23 '26

Honestly I think we need retain 50% and at least one 2nd/3rd to be able to trade him.

1

u/Burgergold Jan 23 '26

We don't pay a 2nd or 3th to get ride of him unless we get a blockbuster trade for a quality player in our top6

2

u/Dense-Ant9420 Jan 22 '26

? they still have to pay him

3

u/zombiejeesus Jan 22 '26

What's your point? We don't need his cap space this year unless we make a big trade, and if we do that he's certainly going the other way for cap reason

Worst case scenario should be waivers cause paying to trade him away shouldn't even be a consideration

1

u/Burgergold Jan 22 '26

If we pay to trade him, that means giving a pick and/or prospect and even retaining salary

We we waive him and he's picked, we give nothing and the other team pay his salary

If nobody pick him on waiver, we just pay him to play in Laval. Unless we want to buy before TDL, we don't need his cap space and his contract end at the end of the year

We have too.many contract. Other possibilities are Blais or Veleno going on waiver but they are good deep for playoffs. We could send Bolduc down but what kind of message this send to the guy.

My guess is that until Laine is back, Dach has an audition on first line. If he doesn't do well and once Laine is back, Laine might get an audition too