Patrik Laine Urged To Take Offer From This Cup Contender

At this point in the offseason, it's clear there isn't a huge demand for unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine. Yes, there are several teams linked to having potential interest in him, but there's nothing substantial, and apparently, nothing imminent. 

Laine played only five games in October last season with the Montreal Canadiens. He missed a few months after surgery to repair a core muscle injury. But even when he was supposedly cleared to play medically, the Habs had no use for him and he never suited up again. 

Even at the still-young age of 28, Laine has been reduced to being a one-trick pony: a power-play specialist. A sniper with the man advantage. Certainly, there are a few teams that could use those services, nevertheless. 

Former player and current NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp appeared on DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor, and he says the Tampa Bay Lightning are the ideal place for Laine to rejuvenate his career. 

I think if i'm Patrik Laine's camp, the best move to get his career back going to where he wants it to be... Honestly man, I would go to Tampa. I would get whatever contract they can do to fit you in and go down there and be on the other side of Nikita Kucherov

(on the power play) and just be burying goals.

And maybe that could spill over to five on five play. Show a re-dedication to the game and other areas of the game. 

Sign a one-year deal. Go down there and be on a good team that you don't have to be the man. I think that would be the best place to get his career back on track. 

Laine can still be a power play sniper

Laine once led the NHL in power play markers, with 20 back in the 2017-18 season with Winnipeg. Yes, that was a long, long time ago, and he is no longer the 40-goal man he was then. 

But just two years ago, in the 2024-25 season, his first year with Montreal, Laine buried 15 power play goals in 52 games, averaging just 14:18 of ice time a night. 

We recently heard of five teams that had at least a bit of interest in Laine, and then a Stanley Cup contender was suggested as another potential landing spot that made sense. Now add the Lightning, and maybe there's enough buzz around that Laine somehow lands himself a one-year deal. Or maybe it's just a PTO and a training camp invite. Still another four weeks or so to sort this out.