Countdown to TradeCentre: About those Laine rumours...

The NHL's Mar. 21 Trade Deadline is approaching and teams are making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TradeCentre on TSN and TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates.  

It's safe to say Patrik Laine is not on the trade block ahead of the March 21 deadline.

In an interview with TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic, Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen sounded off on trade rumours that have surrounded the 23-year-old pending restricted free agent. 

Blue Jackets star Patrick Laine splits the Devils defence with an unreal toe-drag before firing home a beautiful goal.

“Yeah it bothers me because people make up s---, that’s what bothers me,’’ Kekalainen said. “I understand that sometimes from conversations you have (with teams) some of it may leak out, and a name gets in there, but this is not a case like that. This is just somebody making s--- up from their own speculation of what we might do. They make it up and hope for the headlines and hope for the clicks. I think that’s unethical. And I don’t have any time for it.’’

Laine, who carries a $7.5 million cap hit this season, has 20 goals and 38 points in 35 games this season. Acquired from the Winnipeg Jets a year ago, he has 30 goals and 59 points in 80 games since joining the Blue Jackets.

LeBrun writes that Columbus will try to work out a long-term deal with Laine this summer, but Kekalainen stressed the team is not under pressure to reach a deal immediately. 

“I’ve said this before about Laine, we have no rush, we have his rights for this year and next year,’’