Canadiens’ Laine Dump Plan Hit a Wall at Deadline

Montreal had a path in mind, but the deadline can turn tidy plans into messy paperwork fast. The idea was to move on from Patrik Laine, yet the deal never made it across the finish line, which tells you the market was probably colder than the public chatter suggested. Front offices love leverage until they discover everyone else is waiting for a better bargain. Now the Canadiens are left holding a name, a contract, and a decision they still have to make.