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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 21: Patrik Laine #92 of the Montreal Canadiens looks on against the Washington Capitals during the third period in Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
One of the most intriguing players left on the free agent market as training camps get underway is undoubtedly Patrik Laine. The former Winnipeg Jets<\/a>, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Montreal Canadiens forward is a polarizing player. He was, at one point, set to become one of the league\u2019s most dangerous goal scorers, but injuries and other off-ice situations have caused him to miss significant time and lower his offensive contributions.<\/p>\n A Finnish podcast called the Urheliucast reported early this week<\/a> that the Anaheim Ducks<\/a> had met with Laine and were expected to negotiate with him after the Cutter Gauthier signing was finalized. Those reports were rebutted on Friday by Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune who posted the following on X: \u201cWhen it comes to any rumors connecting the Ducks and Patrik Laine, I\u2019ve been told \u2018categorically untrue\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to any rumors connecting the Ducks and Patrik Laine, I\u2019ve been told \u201ccategorically untrue.\u201d Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton mentioned Anaheim as a potential landing spot for Laine as well in a recent episode<\/a> of Daily Faceoff LIVE as well, but were discussing it as a pure hypothetical rather than as a report.<\/p>\n Why Would Laine Help the Ducks?<\/p>\n Although the reports of discussions between the Ducks and Laine were disputed by Cavanagh, the fit could theoretically make sense. With Chris Kreider leaving the organization in order to fit Gauthier\u2019s contract, the Ducks could use a cheap goal-scorer to take his place. The Ducks currently have just over $2-million in cap space and given Laine\u2019s disappointing stint in Montreal, he likely won\u2019t command more than that at this stage of his career.<\/p>\n Last season, Laine appeared in just five games and recorded a single assist. His first season in Quebec was more memorable, as he hit the 20-goal plateau for the sixth time in his career but was once again limited by his health, appearing in just 52 games. In fact, Laine hasn\u2019t appeared in 60 or more games since the 2019-20 season when he was still a member of the Winnipeg Jets.<\/p>\n In the last three seasons, Laine has appeared in just 75 games at the NHL level. When he\u2019s on the ice, he\u2019s an effective goal-scorer in most cases even if he\u2019s not the same player who once put up 44 goals with the Jets almost a decade ago. He can be a cheap, useful player if used in a third-line scoring role. At this point though, offering anything more than a one-year contract would carry significant risk given his lack of availability in recent years.<\/p>\n The Last of Laine?<\/p>\n Given the fact that he hasn\u2019t signed a contract, or even a professional tryout at this stage, it seems fair to question whether any NHL teams are willing to give the 28-year-old another opportunity to prove that he belongs at this level.<\/p>\n If this is the case, Laine\u2019s career can be looked upon as a warning sign to top prospects in any given draft class. Early success, even at the NHL level, doesn\u2019t always guarantee a lengthy, memorable career. Some players struggle to live up to expectations in the biggest hockey league in the world.<\/p>\n At this stage, it wouldn\u2019t be strange to see Laine sign back in his native Finland or in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League, but for now, we just have to wait and see what\u2019s next for the winger.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tWilliam Espy<\/a> William Espy is an accredited writer who has been credentialed by the San Jose Sharks, San Jose Earthquakes, Stockton Kings, San Francisco Giants, and multiple other sports organizations throughout California. He currently covers the MLB with a focus on the San Francisco Giants, the NBA with a focus on the Sacramento Kings, the MLS and the NHL for Heavy Sports.\u00a0 More about William Espy<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t
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