Four teams reportedly interested in free agent Patrik Laine

The NHL offseason is winding down, and one of the biggest names still sitting on the open market is Patrik Laine. The former second overall pick has had a career full of dazzling highlights and frustrating setbacks in equal measure, and now as the 2026-27 season inches closer, the Finnish sniper finds himself in an unfamiliar position: waiting for the phone to ring. But according to multiple reports, it appears the phone has been ringing after all, just maybe not as loudly as Laine would have hoped.

Ottawa Citizen columnist Bruce Garrioch reported on Tuesday that four NHL clubs have shown interest in Laine: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. That's a fascinating mix of teams with very different situations, ranging from legitimate Stanley Cup contenders to a franchise still trying to find its way out of the basement.

A wide range of suitors with very different motivations

Laine became an unrestricted free agent after his four-year, $34.8 million deal with the Montreal Canadiens expired. His career numbers are impressive on paper, with 422 points across 537 NHL games and two 40-goal seasons, including a career-best 44 goals with the Winnipeg Jets back in 2017-18. But the recent track record tells a much less flattering story. Laine appeared in just five games for Montreal during the 2025-26 campaign, and injuries have been a recurring theme throughout his career. Despite the limited action, Laine has reportedly indicated he is healthy and ready to return.

That health question is exactly why the former elite goal scorer is still available this deep into the summer. Any team signing him at this point is likely looking at a low-cost, bonus-heavy contract rather than anything resembling his previous deal. Heavy's Christopher Moore has reported that the Maple Leafs, in particular, could be eyeing Laine as a bargain addition.

Looking at the four teams involved, the fit varies wildly. Dallas finished 50-20-12 last season, good for third overall in the league, and closed the year on a five-game winning streak. For the Stars, adding Laine would be about stacking an already deep roster even further rather than addressing some glaring weakness. Tampa Bay tells a similar story at 50-26-6 and fifth overall. Both clubs are built to compete right now, and a healthy Laine on a team-friendly deal would give either squad another dangerous weapon, particularly on the power play where his one-timer remains one of the most lethal shots in hockey.

Florida sits at 40-38-4 and 25th overall, making their interest feel more like due diligence than desperation. When a talent like Laine is available at a discount, smart front offices at least pick up the phone.

Then there's Toronto. The Maple Leafs limped to a 32-36-14 record last season, finishing 28th in the league and closing out the year on a brutal seven-game losing streak. Their minus-46 goal differential painted an ugly picture of a team that simply could not keep pucks out of its own net. Adding a pure shooter like Laine would give Jim Hiller's group a weapon it sorely lacked, but it's fair to wonder whether one more scorer actually fixes what's broken in Toronto or just papers over deeper issues for another disappointing spring.

What comes next for Laine

The Maple Leafs have very little salary cap flexibility to work with, though a bonus-laden deal could help them navigate that obstacle. The Stars, Panthers, and Lightning all face their own cap constraints as well, which likely explains why no deal has materialized yet despite the reported interest from all four clubs.

Garrioch's report notably does not detail what kind of contract structure is being discussed or which team is pushing hardest to land Laine. Being linked to four teams at once sounds impressive on the surface, but it can also be the rumor mill's way of saying everyone is interested but nobody is quite ready to commit. Laine remains one of the most notable unrestricted free agents still searching for a home, and with training camps on the horizon, the clock is ticking for all parties involved. Whether it's a contender looking for one more piece or a rebuilding squad hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, someone is going to take a swing on the talented but injury-prone winger. The only question is who blinks first.