5 teams in the mix for Patrick Laine.

We are only weeks away from the start of training camps around the National Hockey League but despite that former 2nd overall pick Patrik Laine remains without a contract for the 2026-27 NHL season.

That may be about to change however with recent reports indicating that as many as 5 NHL teams have expressed interest in Laine, this in spite of the fact that there are some rather glaring red flags when it comes to this player in particular.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.

Throughout his career Laine has shown an incredible scoring touch that has befuddled opposing teams and goaltenders alike. Over 537 career NHL games the Finnish forward has amassed 224 goals and 198 assists, a total of 422 career points, leaving no doubt about his offensive prowess on the ice.

Laine however isn't nearly the same player on the opposite side of the ice and his defensive deficiencies have led to him being a minus player most of his career. In fact Laine boasts a career plus minus of -75, not a great look for a prolific goal-scorer.

Even when moving away from more traditional stats like plus/minus, Laine's defensive liabilities remain significant.

Perhaps worst of all however is the fact that Laine has simply become unreliable. Over the course of the past 3 seasons Laine appeared in a combined total of just 75 NHL games, giving his teams very little return on their investment. To make matters worse, when Laine was reportedly healthy enough to return to the Canadiens this past season, he was simply never activated off of injured reserve.

5 NHL Teams Come Calling.

In spite of the very reasonable concerns around Laine it seems that there are a number of NHL teams still willing to give a player with his offensive gifts one more chance.

Here are some quick thoughts on each of those potential scenarios:

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin has reportedly expressed interest in Laine which would make some sense with the Wild in win-now mode. The Wild took a major gamble when they acquired Quinn Hughes with no assurances of an extension last season and with Hughes' contract set to expire at the end of this season I expect the Wild to go all in for a run at the Stanley Cup.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere missed out on his chance to acquire Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson this summer after shaking up the NHL with a major offer sheet. Looking to add some offensive punch after that swing and a miss would make some sense, although I do have to question the fit. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has had very public clashes with Flyers star forward Matvei Michkov and bringing in a player like Laine could be the last thing a team with a young core of players needs.

New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury has already made significant additions to his roster this summer and doesn't have a ton of cap space to work with, and that's where Laine could be a perfect fit. As a result of missing so much time due to injury, Laine is eligible to sign a bonus-laden contract due to his long absence, a rule in the collective bargaining agreement designed to help injured players reestablish their value in the league after an extended layoff. Those bonuses would roll over to the following season should they cause the Rangers to go over the cap.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien Brisebois is known for making shrewd additions to his roster and did so again this summer by adding the likes of defenseman John Carlsson and Ilya Mikheyev to the Lightning. Like the Rangers the Lightning are now looking at limited cap space and could view a bonus heavy contract for Laine as an option to squeeze some extra offense in under their tight cap.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka made it his mission to reshape the Maple Leafs roster this summer and he has done so with some significant transactions. The Maple Leafs have also lost forward Max Domi for an unknown length of time after complications stemming from surgery earlier this summer, which could suddenly increase their need for a forward.

Would you want your team to sign Laine?