Report: 3 Teams In Deep Discussions With UFA Patrik Laine
The Patrik Laine sweepstakes are coming to an end very soon, as the free-agent forward has been in contact with multiple teams of late, and appears to be very close to signing a contract for the 2026-27 NHL season.
Laine hasn't played since October 2025. He appeared in only five contests with the Montreal Canadiens last season, mainly because of a core muscle injury. The shocking part is that Laine was healthy enough to return to the ice in January, but the team decided it had great chemistry with the group already, and sat Laine out for the rest of the season. He made it very clear in his exit interview that he had no interest returning to Montreal.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings have been going hard after Laine, looking to boost their offense on the wing. Laine has been training in south Florida for most of the past six months, and now with Brad Marchand out, and Aleksander Barkov already shelved, Laine could become a legitimate option for the Panthers.
At 28 years old, Laine is looking to hit the reset button on his career, and showcase that he can still put the puck in the back of the net on a regular basis. He's just got to find a way to stay healthy, as he's only played in 186 of a possible 410 NHL games over a five year span. However, on an 82-game pace, he's averaged 32 goals and 66 points.
The Flames and Red Wings can't score, and the Panthers can't stay healthy, so we'll see where Laine winds up.