Patrik Laine’s trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Montreal Canadiens had his fiancée, Jordan Leigh, excited about the move. Leigh shared her happiness on Instagram, reposting a story from Canadiens de Montréal with a caption that read:
"We are so pumped to meet you Montreal!!"
In another story, Leigh expressed an interest in learning French, asking for help in finding a French tutor:
"Also if anyone knows a French teacher please share their contact Sos," she wrote.
Leigh also asked her followers for advice on adjusting to life in Montreal:
"What do I need to know before we move to MTL?," she asked.
She received many messages full of suggestions from fans, for which she thanked them.
For Laine, the trade is far more than just joining a new team. He shared how important his trade to the Canadian hockey market was (via NHL.com):
"It's the biggest hockey market there is, I've played in Canada before, obviously, and I loved every minute of it, I miss being back there where hockey is the number one thing and people really genuinely care about the team and obviously the players," Laine said.
The trade also included Columbus sending a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft to Montreal for defenseman Jordan Harris.
Columbus GM Don Waddell on Patrik Laine trade
Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell acknowledged Patrik Laine's need for change and respected his decision (via NHL.com):
"We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him," Waddell said. "We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best."
Waddell was transparent with Laine and his agent throughout the process, allowing them to explore options, and Montreal emerged as the ideal destination. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes confirmed they had several conversations with Laine before finalizing the trade.
Despite his recent struggles, the Finnish international's talent is undeniable. The Canadiens see him as a valuable addition who can mentor younger players while contributing on the ice. Hughes also shared that Laine’s success in Montreal would be measured by his overall contribution, not just his goal count:
"To me, this isn’t a transaction that either he scores 40 or 50 (goals) or it’s a bust, far from it," Hughes said. "My relay to him was: If you come here ready to contribute to this team, to do everything in your power to help us get to a place..."
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