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The Nashville Predators Should Offer Sheet Patrik Laine to Create Chaos

By Colby Guy

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 10: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets is congratulated by teammates after a 5-1 win in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 10: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets is congratulated by teammates after a 5-1 win in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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With the Winnipeg Jets in a serious debacle with Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor on the RFA Market, the Nashville Predators should try their hand at offer sheeting Laine.

The Nashville Predators have the moveable pieces (including Kyle Turris, Nick Bonino and Calle Jarnkrok) to open up around $12-13 million in cap space, which could be a gateway to offer sheeting the Winnipeg Jets young star.

Acquiring the services of Patrik Laine would be huge, but even if the Winnipeg Jets match the offer, it could force their division rival into an awful cap situation that they might not be able to get out of.

We already saw the Jets part ways with Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Kevin Hayes this summer, and if David Poile ponies up with a $12 million offer sheet for Patrick Laine it could cause some serious decisions to be made by Winnipeg’s front office.

This could either mean that the Jets would be losing their 21-year-old superstar, or it will mean faces like Dustin Byfuglien or Kyle Connor may have to be moved to accommodate fitting the team under the cap in the future.

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But if the Jets don’t match the offer sheet, it would mean the Nashville Predators would be getting one amazing hockey player.

Patrick Laine was the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and he has already become one of the best players in the NHL at a young age.

He has scored over 30 goals in every single one of his three NHL seasons, including 44 goals in the 2017-18 season.

He has one of the best shots in the league, rivaling Alexander Ovechkin, who his playstyle is eerily similar to, and would be the perfect fix to the Nashville Predators power play.

He would be the perfect sidekick to Matt Duchene as well, being the guy he can feed passes to and destroy NHL defenses.

Laine is also 6’5, 206 lbs and is not afraid to use his body, which makes him one of the deadliest players in the NHL.

Sure, Laine has had some problems staying focused off the ice, playing Fortnite a little too much, but I have a feeling David Poile and Peter Laviolette would do a better job than the current Jets regime to keep him focused.

Plus, he has a fellow Finnish countryman in Pekka Rinne to guide him into his road to becoming one of the league’s best.

dark. Next. Predators Should Trade For William Nylander

This move would be an absolute win for the Nashville Predators, as they could either take away one of the league’s best players from their division rival or force the Winnipeg Jets into some serious cap problems.

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