Laine's Trade Deadline Surprise: UFA Path

0:00It's March 12th, here's your NHL news in two minutes. Subscribe to stay locked in all season. Patrick Lane stayed with the Montreal Canadians past the March 6th trade deadline, despite heavy rumors in his $8.7 million dollar. Average annual value contract, expiring soon. The 27-year-old forward, once a 44-goal score, sat out most of the season due to injuries, fueling talk of a deal. With four big hurdles kept any trade from happening, shaving his path to unrestricted free agency on July 1st. The biggest snag was a $2 million signing bonus due March 31st. Unlike performance bonuses, this one hits the cap right away for any team taking Lane, with little time left to use him this season. Montreal's tight cap space after his injured reserve stand made it even tougher. A structure set up years ago by his old Columbus General Manager. Lane's 10-team no-trade list shrank the pool of interested buyers from the start. Teams that might have fit his style or handled the bonus risk could have been off limits.

1:02Meanwhile, Canadians' general manager Kent Hughes focused on long-term gains, not dumping him cheap while holding a wild car playoff spot at. 33 wins, 18 losses, and 9 overtime losses. Pricing Lane proved tricky, too. He last played October 16th before core muscle surgery, returned to practice in mid-January, then got hurt again after the Olympic break. No team wanted to bet big on a projection of his power play skills from last year's 28 goals, especially at that salary. Now practicing without restrictions but still sidelined, Lane's next steps are key. A healthy summer could draw a proof it offers at lower pay. Fans and teams alike wonder if full health or a new home comes first. Maybe even a stint in Finland's top league for conditioning before the draft. The daily news now is powered by our sponsor, Link in the description. No earbuds, no headbands, no awkward sleeping positions, just a pillow that plays your sound, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com.