The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly among a handful of teams that are being linked to unrestricted free agent winger Patrik Laine as the dog days of summer continue to roll on.
Laine's fit with Maple Leafs makes sense
According to a report from The Montreal Gazette's Herb Zurkowsky, the Maple Leafs are one of five teams linked to the 28-year-old forward. The others are the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Philadelphia Flyers. Laine's market has been quiet for much of the summer. So quiet that many writers, insiders, and hockey bloggers have him listed as a PTO option for many teams. However, it seems that he could sign a one-year deal to prove that he can still be an impactful player.
Laine is coming off a frustrating 2025-2026 campaign in Montreal, where a core-muscle injury and subsequent surgery limited him to just five games. However, when healthy, he has shown that he is one of the best shooters in the entire NHL. During the 2024-2025 season with the Canadiens, Laine scored 20 goals in 52 games, including 15 on the power play. Which is an area that the Maple Leafs need help with after years of having a struggling power play when they needed it most.Â
For general manager John Chayka and the Maple Leafs, pursuing Laine is a low-risk, high-reward reclamation signing. Which could allow them to add a pure sniper into Toronto's top six on a very cheap contract.
As Zurkowsky noted, a potential fit in Toronto could see Laine lined up alongside captain Auston Matthews, giving opposing defences two world-class shooting threats to account for on the same line. For Laine, being slotted in on the top line alongside Matthews or even the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. The draw of playing with world-class players and getting a chance to rejuvenate his career is something that can’t be overlooked.Â
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