It’s getting really weird for Patrik Laine.<\/p>\n
After a season with single-digit games played for the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> due to injury and then seemingly due to preference, Laine is now a free agent.<\/p>\n A few years ago, this free agency would’ve been highly anticipated. Laine would’ve been a guy believed to be set up for a lot of money.<\/p>\n That’s no longer true. Laine can’t land a contract at all.<\/p>\n The New York Islanders<\/a> have expressed interest in Laine, but not a ton, according to beat reporter Stefen Rosner<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Islanders don’t want to offer “anything more than a Professional Tryout (PTO)” to Laine, though, Rosner writes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Dylan Larkin trade ‘frontrunner’ revealed<\/a><\/p>\n Rosner also used the word “logjam” to describe the Islanders’ forward position. That’s not going to help Laine’s chances of finding a gig, either.<\/p>\n Pro Hockey Rumors<\/a> notes that the Los Angeles Kings<\/a> were previously linked to Laine, but that doesn’t seem to have continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n Laine’s five games early in the 2025-26 season preceded him pretty much vanishing, and it’s not clear when he might return to the picture.<\/p>\n Montreal clearly doesn’t want to bring him back, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of what he’s bringing to the table right now.<\/p>\n At this point, it’s hard to project what comes next for Laine. He’s going to have to redeem himself with whatever small chance he might get.<\/p>\n