Update on Patrik Laine's contract talks.

The Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off what will likely go down as the biggest surprise of the 2022 offseason this week when they signed unrestricted free agent forward Johnny Gaudreau away from the Calgary Flames. Not only was it a surprise to see Gaudreau leave the Flames after that team had allegedly made him a monumental offer, but it was also a true surprise when the Blue Jackets were revealed to be the team that landed him given that they had been on no one's radar leading up to the signing itself.

It was a major win for a franchise that has historically struggled to retain its own prized free agents and it may be a move that is already paying dividends for the Blue Jackets organization off the ice as well. The Blue Jackets are currently negotiating a new deal for their other star winger in Patrik Laine and, although a deal has yet to be reached, it sounds like the signing of Gaudreau may have had a positive effect on those contract talks.

On Saturday, Blue Jackets insider Aaron Portzline provided an update on the negotiations between Laine and the Blue Jackets and it was good news indeed. According to the insider, Laine and his camp are not expected to file for arbitration ahead of the upcoming deadline on Sunday, a sign that negotiations are at the very least progressing in a positive direction.

No doubt the addition of Gaudreau, another very talented winger, has Laine excited at the prospect of returning to Columbus next season and it may even open up more avenues for a longer term deal now that Laine knows Gaudreau is also there for the long haul. While Gaudreau will still have to prove that he can live up to his massive new contract with his play on the ice, it would appear that the Blue Jackets' big offseason acquisition is already earning his keep.

According to Portzline things between Laine and the Blue Jackets may not be moving as quickly as everyone involved would like, but things are certainly looking up off the back of this latest update.