A second-overall pick has been cleared from the Player Assistance Program.
In the latest edition of the NHL Notebook, we’ll look at all the news surrounding Patrik Laine, a 2023 first-round selection signed his entry-level contract, and a Montréal Canadien underwent surgery for a broken leg.
Let’s take a look at all!

Patrik Laine cleared from the Player Assistance Program

It’s been a rough few seasons for Patrik Laine in Columbus, but there was some good news surrounding the 26-year-old, as he was cleared from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Friday.
Laine joined the program back in late-January and hasn’t played a game since mid-Decemeber. In terms of results, he scored just six goals and nine points in 18 games for the Jackets before his injury as well as entering the Player Assistance Program.
In June, the second-overall pick in the 2016 requested a trade, Don Waddell, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ new general manager, would work to achieve. As of last week, Waddell told The Athletic that Laine can speak to other teams when he’s cleared.
Laine was selected second-overall in the 2016 draft by the Winnipeg Jets, and spent parts of five seasons with the Jets. In total, he scored 140 goals and 250 points in 306 games, including a 44 goal, 70 point season in 2017-18. Early in the 2020-21 season, Laine was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Pierre-Luc Dubois.
With the Jackets, Laine has posted 64 goals and 138 points in 174 games, but it appears his time with the rebuilding club could be coming to an end. Last week on TSN 690, Montréal’s sports talk radio, the Jackets’ The Athletic writer, Aaron Portzline noted that the Jackets are looking for picks and prospects (2:47 mark).
Laine could help a contender, especially if he can return to the form he had early in his career. More importantly, it appears that Laine is in a better place now.

Brayden Yager signs his entry-level contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed one of their top prospects, Brayden Yager, to a three-year entry-level contract, carrying an annual cap hit of $1.45 million thanks to a $500,000 bonus.
Yager was selected 14th-overall in the 2023 draft by the Penguins from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League. In his final junior season, he scored 35 goals and 95 points in 57 games – a career-high in both regards. 
Moreover, he scored 11 goals and 27 points in 20 postseason games, helping the Warriors win their first Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history. Unfortunately, the WHL representatives fell in the semifinals of the Memorial Cup.
The 19-year-old’s best attribute is his fantastic shot, considered a “wicked release” by Tyler Kuehl of Daily Faceoff.

Rafaël Harvey-Pinard undergoes leg surgery

Unfortunately for the Montréal Canadiens, they’ll be without their forward, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, to start the 2024-25 season as he underwent successful surgery on his broken leg.
Suffered in training, it’s believed that he’ll miss training camp, but could be ready around November. Last season with the Canadiens, he scored just two goals and 10 points in 45 games, and missed parts of the season with a different leg injury.
The season prior was his career-best, as the 25-year-old winger scored 14 goals and 20 points in 34 games for the Canadiens. Not too shabby for a player selected in the seventh-round back in 2019.
Hopefully, there are no further complications with the injury, as Harvey-Pinard is a useful bottom six player for the rebuilding Canadiens.
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