Patrik Laine and the hat trick that the Detroit Red Wings deserved

1st-year Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine is turning back the clock in tonight's game against the abysmal Buffalo Sabres.

He's picked up the hat trick, giving him an impressive six power play goals in six games.

But what were the chances of another Atlantic Division Original 6 club picking him up?

The Detroit Red Wings are starved for offense; and while their power play efficiency has been decently good this year, their 5v5 play was among hockey's worst (in addition to their historically bad penalty killing).

Just imagine had the Red Wings able to swing a deal for Laine with the Columbus Blue Jackets, from whom he requested a trade after completing a stay in the NHL Player Assistance Program.

Columbus traded him and a 2nd-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Canadiens, and received defenseman Jordan Harris in return.

The Red Wings could have decided to send a player like Jonatan Berggren to the Jackets in return, or perhaps gauged their interest in a change of circumstances for Andrew Copp.

The only thing that would have made a potential deal for Laine tricky is his $8.7 million cap hit; he's signed through 2026.

For now, it looks like Laine has recaptured his scoring prowess that made him one of the biggest threats in hockey after being taken No. 2 overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016.