Now, however, he is looking to be traded out of Columbus. Overall, this is proving to be easier said than done. The trade market is a bit dead right now, and while this is mostly because we are in August, there is no denying the fact that things are moving at a snail's pace.
According to Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers, Don Waddell recently confirmed that Laine had a conversation with new Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason. During this conversation, Laine doubled down on wanting a trade.
Unfortunately for Laine, nothing is moving right now. As Waddell notes, he wants to accommodate the trade request to the best of his ability. However, what is holding things up right now is the lack of interest. Simply put, there is a very good chance that we are going to see Laine start the year in Ohio.