Winnipeg Jets avoid a huge mistake by extending Patrik Laine

The Winnipeg Jets have ended the Patrik Laine RFA saga, and have avoided a disastrous mistake by extending him instead of trading him in desperation.

Breathe easy Winnipeg fans, Patrik Laine is going nowhere. For now at least.

As first reported by Darren Dreger of TSN, the Winnipeg Jets and Laine have reached an agreement on a two year contract extension worth $6.75M a season, for a contract total of $13.5M.

The extension comes after weeks of speculation that Laine was unhappy in Winnipeg, and would not be opposed to a trade. Most notably, Laine was unhappy with his usage in Winnipeg as he felt that he deserved to be playing on the top line with the likes of Mark Scheifele instead of Bryan Little.

Laine later apologized privately to Bryan Little for his public comments, claiming the translation was misunderstood.

Last season, Laine failed to deliver on the hype surrounding him entering the season, leading to a streaky season that saw him produce 30 goals and 20 assists for 50 points, a 14 goal and 20 point drop from the previous season that saw him trail only Alex Ovechkin for goals.

With last years down season, along with the speculation that he was unhappy in Winnipeg and the Jets needs for a defenseman with Dustin Byfuglien out indefinitely, trade speculation ran rampant with the speculation that the Jets could move Laine before the season started. The Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes were both teams that were allegedly linked the most to him in trade talks, but there is nothing that the Jets could’ve received in return that can match the potential Laine has as he enters his fourth full season.

Laine just turned 21 year old and is entering his fourth full season already in the NHL. Even with his down year last season, Laine has scored 110 goals in 237 games, which is sixth best in the league over the last three seasons. Last season was the worst season a player like Laine could have, and he still put up 30 goals, establishing that as his floor goal total in a full season. Once Laine can solve his consistency issues, which is inevitable as he just turned 21 years old, we’re talking about a player that will challenge for the Rocket Richard every season. That is not a player you can just give up on because it got a little irritating in contract negotiations.

Nevertheless, the Jets and Laine both came to their senses to make a deal that’s best for both of them, and now it’s up to Laine to produce at the level that is expected from him in order to earn the big money contract that some of his peers have received this offseason.

However, things may not be out of the woods just yet if Laine and the organization’s relationship continues to sour. If there’s another disappointing season for both sides with more rumors of trouble in paradise, it may not come as a surprise to see Laine in a different jersey for the 2020-21 season.