Significant issue comes up for Patrik Laine…

The Columbus Blue Jackets stunned everyone last week by signing Johnny Gaudreau, but they might have shot themselves in the foot when it comes to Patrik Laine.

Laine is a restricted free agent and is coming off a one-year, $7.5-million contract. He is expected to demande a pay raise, maybe even a long-term deal, but the Jackets might not have the cash to make it happen. According to Cap Friendly, Columbus has just $2.3 million in projected cap space for 2022-23.

While there is a sense that negotiations remain amicable because Laine did not file for arbitration by last Sunday’s deadline, he still remains potential offer-sheet target. Imagine if a rival team tends him an offer hoping to take advantage of the Jackets’ cap constraints!

To avoid an offer sheet showdown, the Blue Jackets need to make room on the salary cap and sign him before the start of 2022-23.

Team insider Aaron Portzline of The Athletic believes Columbus should get rid of Gustav Nyquist via trade as he carries a salary-cap hit of $5.5 million and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The Jackets could receive interest from a contender seeking a second-line forward and maybe even get a sweetener such as a draft pick or a prospect.

But the focus needs to be clear: make room to re-sign Laine or else he may be quote quicker than you think!