Patrik Laine’s time in Montreal is probably over after just five games this season. The Canadiens forward needed core muscle surgery and even though he got healthy enough to play again, the team never activated him off IR. That’s a pretty clear signal that both sides are ready to move on.
Now the question is where he ends up. Free agency opens July 1 and according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, there are already two teams showing serious interest.
The Two Teams to Watch
Pagnotta says the Los Angeles Kings are one name to keep an eye on. The Tampa Bay Lightning are the other. Both teams have cap space questions but also a clear need for scoring depth on the wing. Laine is still only 27 years old and when healthy, he’s a legitimate 30-goal threat. That kind of talent doesn’t hit the open market often.
The Kings have been trying to add a finisher for a while now. Tampa Bay has a track record of taking chances on reclamation projects and making them work. Either fit makes some sense on paper.
How We Got Here
Laine was the No. 2 pick in 2016 by Winnipeg and he looked the part early. In 305 games with the Jets over four seasons he put up 141 goals and 109 assists. Then came the trade to Columbus in 2021. He scored 58 goals in 156 games there but injuries started piling up. Fractured clavicle. A stint in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He played just 18 games in 2023-24.
Montreal took the flyer and it paid off in 2024-25. Laine played 52 games, scored 20 goals, added 13 assists. Looked like the old version of himself. But this year it all fell apart again. Five games, one assist, and another surgery.
What He’s Worth Now
This is where it gets tricky. Laine has elite talent but the medical history is a real concern. Teams that sign him are betting that the core muscle issue was a one-off mechanical problem, not a sign of a guy whose body is breaking down. The Kings and Lightning both have the kind of medical staffs that could make that evaluation.
It’s also worth remembering that Laine is still young enough to have a second act. Not every player with his pedigree gets to free agency at 27. The market will be watching closely.
Free agency opens Wednesday July 1 and ClutchPoints will have full coverage of all the moves as they happen.
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