Winnipeg Jets: Three Reasons Patrik Laine Was Traded

3. Opportunity and deployment were factors in Patrik Laine wanting a trade

Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged that deployment and opportunity in the line up did factor into Laine and his representative’s dissatisfaction with the team, and ultimate trade request.

Cheveldayoff indicated that at the time Laine was drafted there was considerable competition within the Jets team for ice time as they had a good group of young wingers coming up. He stressed that Laine was given opportunity, but that this may not have matched what was desired by Laine and his representatives.

Cheveldayoff also acknowledged that the Jets organization did not feel that Laine and Scheifele were a good fit playing together stressing that they did play together most of last season, and that if you look at the analytics it really wasn’t working.

Cheveldayoff advised that early on in Laine’s career he essentially was not ready for top line minutes in the organization, as is the case with most young players. He also indicated that the organization had, and still has, an abundance of young talent on the wing.

The Jets traded for Paul Stastny essentially to play with Laine this season, but it seems quite clear that Laine and his agent felt that he should still be a top line center.

It will be interesting to see how he fares in Columbus playing with Max Domi who is promoted to top line center with Dubois gone.