8 NHL Free-Agent Landing Spots for Patrik Laine Amid Rumors

We're nearly a month away from NHL training camps opening up, and one of the formerly premier goal scorers in the league is still without a home.

Patrik Laine was once a reliable 30-to-40-goal scorer, but a litany of injuries and inconsistent play have left him on the outside looking in as an NHL free agent.

A series of injuries held Laine to just five games played with the Montréal Canadiens last season, and even though he returned to skating in January with the team, he was never activated for the rest of the season.

A player with his kind of shot and ability to score on the power play has value, but given his recent history of health issues and a career filled with goals, what he'd want in a contract and what teams would be willing to pay would likely be far apart.

Still, with camp approaching and teams still in need of help filling holes offensively, there would have to be a market for a guy who once scored 44 goals in a season.

We've read the blogs, sniffed around at the rumors, and put together a list of teams that might just come calling for the Finnish sniper.

Philadelphia Flyers

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Philadelphia was arguably the most aggressive team this offseason, given the monster offer sheet they signed Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson to, only to see the Ducks match it. They went big and didn't come away with the prize, but they could be more budget-conscious and potentially get a win with a lottery ticket in Patrik Laine.

The Flyers are on a solid path under coach Rick Tocchet with Trevor Zegras, Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov leading the way. Philly could use a bit more pop offensively, however, and adding a power-play weapon like Laine would certainly help to that end.

However, a lot of what helped Tocchet and the Flyers last season was the youthful exuberance in their lineup and their overall ability to adapt to the game and adjust to new situations game to game. Laine's struggles defensively and his streaky offense might be an awkward fit given they're also going through similar motions with the younger Michkov.

Still, goals are goals, and if Tocchet and GM Danny Brière see a way to make it work and do so on the cheap, it's a pairing that might be just wacky enough to work.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Patrik Laine

Toronto's offseason makeover has been thorough, and while they were able to add Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft, most of their other moves this summer addressed team defense at forward and left questions about their offense. Taking a flier on Patrik Laine might be the kind of move that pays off in the end, and Herb Zurkowsky of the Montréal Gazette sees the match.

While it's expected that McKenna will have an impact on the Leafs' offense right away while joining Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies, finding a little bit extra, even someone to use in a pinch here and there like Laine, could be the difference between the Leafs pretending to make a run at the postseason and actually getting back there.

Toronto has forward depth, undoubtedly, but when it comes to depth that can produce offense, that's where they're lacking. New coach Jim Hiller is known for a more defensive style of hockey, which might mean Laine is an automatic no-go, but for a guy who can fire it on the power play and provide a spark, adding Laine on an inexpensive deal checks a box or two.

New York Rangers

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The Rangers have had a solid offseason, adding Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas and Sean Durzi from Utah to help give their offense a lift.

Adding Laine would help them out even more, especially on the power play, while adding something New York is forever known for: star power.

Dorofeyev's arrival gives the Rangers a player who's scored 30-plus goals a season since coming over from Russia, but they badly need more goal-scoring after finishing 23rd in the NHL in goals for despite having the league's fifth-best power play.

Laine's raw offensive ability would give Rangers fans plenty of reason to get excited, even with strong concerns about his defensive play.

After finishing at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division last season, New York needs all the help it can get, and for what Laine would cost, the defensive risk would be worth it for the offense he could provide.

Minnesota Wild

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The Wild and Patrik Laine have some history in a way.

Minnesota attempted to add Laine in 2024, only for him to pass on the Wild and instead land with the Canadiens.

Time can change opinions and situations, though, and that applies to both Laine and Minnesota GM Bill Guerin. If the Wild circled back for Laine, he's a guy who could give their power play a boost.

Laine's shot and ability to fire the puck from the circle on the man advantage would give Minnesota another weapon and a different dynamic after Mats Zuccarello departed in free agency.

The Wild do have a new option arriving this season in Russian winger Maxim Shabanov, but if they're seeking a known quantity, Laine is right there.

The Wild are in a battle with Colorado and Dallas atop the Central Division, and any little bit can help. If they added Laine, that would give them a unique weapon, albeit someone with his own defensive weaknesses.

Los Angeles Kings

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Seeing the Kings linked to Laine, per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, makes for an interesting setup.

The Kings are moving on without Anže Kopitar, who retired after last season, and while they added Artemi Panarin in a trade last year, they're hoping for Kevin Fiala to return to form following his season-ending injury at the Olympics.

On paper, the Kings' forward group looks strong, although they'd be an injury or two away from stressing out their system. Los Angeles is always in need of more goals, and Laine could provide that. The Kings also play strong enough team defense to help cover for the biggest shortcoming in his game.

Laine would be a fascinating addition and fit for the team, but his more one-dimensional game might not jive well with coach Peter Laviolette.

New York Islanders

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After the Islanders saw Anders Lee depart to Utah in free agency, they could stand to add a veteran who can help score goals, and Laine fits that description.

Stefen Rosner of The Elmonters reported the Isles' interest when free agency opened, but made it clear the team wasn't all that interested in paying big money to add him.

However, if Laine is still unsigned when training camps open in mid-September, a professional tryout to earn a roster spot becomes a real possibility. Rosner noted that this is the most likely path for the 2016 No. 2 overall pick to land on Long Island.

The Islanders have a load of veterans slotted into their forward group, and given the team's dedication to strong defense, adding Laine would represent quite a different type of player.

That said, if they're in need of a power-play sniper—someone whose biggest talent is scoring goals—getting him on a cheap deal following a PTO wouldn't be the worst way to go about it.

Calgary Flames

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If there's any team in the NHL that's beyond desperate for more offense, it's the Calgary Flames.

They had the league's worst offense last season, scoring 2.54 goals per game (208 for the season) and had three players score 20 or more goals. Their leading scorer, Matt Coronato, had 45 points. There's no doubt they could make use of Laine.

We've touched on Laine's defensive shortcomings, and if Calgary can't look beyond that to add a potential goal-scoring spark plug to provide any amount of added offense, then we're not sure what to say.

It would be understandable if Laine didn't want to play for Calgary, but while he's still a free agent, it's hard to be selective.

Laine would give the Flames a power-play gunner and a player who can provide instant offense. There's also a built-in exit strategy: If he has a strong season and Calgary isn't in playoff contention, it could flip him at the deadline to a contending team. A win-win situation, surely?

Tampa Bay Lightning

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One curious team that's been connected to Laine is the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pagnotta mentioned them as a team of interest when free agency opened on July 1, and while the Bolts were busy this summer, he remains available. Given Tampa Bay's depth and overall forward talent, adding him as a specialist makes sense.

The Lightning addressed strength, checking and toughness up front this summer by adding Ilya Mikheyev and Jeffrey Viel. Those additions make sense for dealing with the likes of Florida, Montréal and Buffalo, but they've lacked a sniper on the power play since Steven Stamkos went to Nashville.

Tampa Bay's power play was average last year, 17th in the league, and its inability to be consistent on it in the postseason (5-for-29) led to a first-round elimination by the Canadiens.

Tampa Bay and coach Jon Cooper would know best how to shelter Laine and put him in the best position for success.

If there were an ideal situation for Laine, it would be with the Lightning, but a crowded roster and a tight-yet-flexible cap situation make a fit tricky to pull off.