Patrik Laine hasn’t played a full NHL game since mid-October. He’s scored one point all season. And yet, when free agency opens July 1, the 27-year-old forward could spark a quiet bidding war among contenders looking for a low-risk, high-upside bet.
That’s the paradox of Laine’s current market. A player who once scored 44 goals in a season and was picked second overall in the 2016 draft — one spot behind Auston Matthews — now finds himself at a career crossroads. His 2025-26 season with the Montreal Canadiens essentially ended five games in after an injury sidelined him. He recorded a single assist in those five appearances and hasn’t suited up since October 16 against the Nashville Predators.
Why Contenders Might Still Circle Back
According to NHL insiders Frank Seravalli and John Buccigross, multiple teams could emerge as suitors. The list includes the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, the Seattle Kraken, New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators, Utah Mammoth, and Florida Panthers.
Seravalli, speaking on the Frankly Hockey show on Victory+, singled out Carolina as a particularly logical fit. “The Carolina Hurricanes — they’ve taken a chance before on players that were drafted high and showed some promise,” Seravalli said. “They have some (Finnish players), maybe they could find some magic with the success that Laine has had on the world stage with them.”
He added: “Try it for one year and give it a whirl, and he might want the challenge of playing for Rod Brind’Amour – working hard, skating, and being in proper shape… I think Carolina is the team to watch, because they’re always looking to get better and add more goals, and shot volume is the name of their game.”
The Numbers Tell a Tale of Two Careers
Laine’s track record is a study in extremes. Over 537 career regular-season games with the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Canadiens, he’s racked up 224 goals and 198 assists. In 26 playoff games, he’s added eight goals and nine assists. The raw production is undeniable — he’s one of only 12 active players with multiple 40-goal seasons.
But the injury history and inconsistency have followed him. After being traded from Winnipeg to Columbus in 2021, and then from Columbus to Montreal in 2024, Laine has yet to find a long-term home. His 2023-24 season was cut short by a broken clavicle. This season’s injury only deepens the questions about durability.
What a One-Year Deal Could Look Like
For a team like Carolina, a short-term contract — one year, perhaps in the $3–4 million range — would carry almost no downside. The Hurricanes have cap flexibility, a system built on volume shooting and possession, and a locker room culture under Brind’Amour that demands accountability. If Laine buys in, he could rediscover the form that made him a 30-goal threat. If he doesn’t, the team moves on quickly with minimal cap damage.
Other teams on the reported list present different incentives. Seattle offers a fresh market and a young core. New Jersey could pair him with Jack Hughes in a high-octane offense. Nashville and Utah both have cap room and a need for scoring depth. Florida, coming off a deep playoff run, could fold him into a veteran group that doesn’t need him to be the guy.
The league has not confirmed any formal offers, and Laine’s camp has not publicly commented on his free agency plans. But the interest — from the defending champs on down — suggests that one lost season hasn’t erased what teams believe he can still be.
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