Laine is expected to be cleared by Doctors and exit the Player Assistance Program soon, but his inclusion in the program prohibits him from speaking to other teams to facilitate a trade. Laine entered the program for mental health reasons in January of this year, and it makes sense that teams would like to speak with him before making a massive trade to acquire him.
Later on, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell revealed that Laine should be cleared in the next few days, and then a trade could pick up quickly. Waddell also noted that he's not interested in retaining any salary, which will preclude a few contending teams from being able to acquire him.
A number of fringe playoff teams looking for elite scoring talent have already shown some interest in trading for Laine. The Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and Utah Hockey Club all make sense as suitors for Patrik Laine.
Laine has the talent and track record of being able to produce at an elite rate in the NHL, but has struggled in recent years. He's still got the raw talent, and it'll be interesting to see if the next team Laine plays for can unlock his potential again.
