Patrik Laine Drawing Interest From Two NHL Teams Early In The Season.

The stock of former 2nd overall pick Patrik Laine has fallen considerably after coming off a tough stint with the Montreal Canadiens in which he played just 57 games across 2 full seasons. That much was made clear when Laine failed to secure a contract before the start of the 2026-27 National Hockey League regular season, but that may not last for long.

Two Teams Come Calling After A Rough Start To The Season.

During a recent Finnish podcast featuring former NHL defenseman Kimmo Timonen it was revealed that two teams in particular have shown increased interest in Laine in recent weeks, and it should come as no surprise that they are both teams that have had a bumpy start to the season.

According to Timonen's co-host, who spoke to Laine directly on the matter, both the Los Angeles Kings and the Detroit Red Wings have been the two most active teams pursuing the free agent forward.

The Los Angeles Kings Situation.

The Kings play in the Pacific Division and have already had to deal with perennial playoff contenders the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights for years and with the emergence of talented young cores in both Anaheim and San Jose, the Pacific Division is only going to get tougher for the Kings.

Adding a forward with a potent scoring touch, especially on the powerplay, makes a ton of sense in that scenario but the Kings have an additional reason to be desperate. Forward Kevin Fiala suffered a serious injury that will keep him out for much of the season, only increasing the need the Kings have at the forward position.

Combined with the fact that the Kings were simply outgunned in their season opener, losing 8-4 to the Colorado Avalanche, and you can easily see why Laine is on their radar.

The Detroit Red Wings Situation.

What is happening in Detroit is anyone's guess right now with the organization seeming somewhat dysfunctional to say the least. Not only have the Red Wings dealt with the drama surrounding now former captain Dylan Larkin all summer long, but one of their top pairing defensemen remains unsigned with restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson and the Red Wings at an inexplicable impasse.

The uncertainty around Larkin's future in Detroit alone could explain their need for a forward and after the way Larkin was mercilessly booed by his own fans in the season opener, I can't imagine he will remain a Red Wing for very long.

The Red Wings also failed to generate any offense on the scoreboard in that season opener, losing 2-0 to the New York Rangers, yet another factor that highlights the team's need for more talent up front.

Of course the real question for either of these teams is, can Laine still be the player that can provide the offense that they both desperately need?