Latest Patrik Laine Update Has 5 Teams Still Interested In The UFA

Unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine is still unsigned a couple of weeks into the season. Some reports say that he hasn't been offered an actual deal yet, while others insist that he is being very picky about where he signs. Insider David Pagnotta appeared on the Hello Hockey podcast and suggested that there are five teams in the mix at this point. 

As many have heard in recent days, the Calgary Flames seem to be around it, but Pagnotta names four other teams as well:

• Los Angeles Kings
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Boston Bruins
• Minnesota Wild
• Calgary Flames

We'll see which of these teams present him with an opportunity to play.

Remember, his situation's a little different because he missed a lot of time the last couple of years. You

can bonus-laden his deal, even at 28. You can give him a base salary of, say, a million bucks and then include incentivized bonuses (for goal totals). Some interesting stuff on, contractually, (how) some teams can kind of maneuver.

But... Laine is obviously waiting for an opportunity.

                                                                                 —David Pagnotta

The power-play specialist played just five games last season with the Montreal Canadiens after an October injury. But even when he was ready to return (reports say that was in January), the Habs didn't chose not to reinstate him to the lineup for the rest of the season. 

The year before that, Laine, now 28, played 52 games with Montreal, scoring 20 goals, 15 of them on the power play.