The notion that the Toronto Maple Leafs have interest in free agent Patrik Laine has picked up steam in recent days. It started a week ago with a report from the Montreal Gazette's Herb Zurkowsky listing Toronto as one of the teams that the former No. 2 overall pick has been linked to.
Since then, speculation has begun about how seriously the Maple Leafs might pursue the former 40-goal scorer, who was selected right after Leafs' captain Auston Matthews in the 2016 NHL Draft. Proponents of adding the former sniper suggest there is no harm in offering him an incentive-laden, short-term contract or an invite to training camp on a PTO. A well-known Toronto media personality, however, steadfastly declared that the Maple Leafs should avoid signing the former Winnipeg Jets draft pick.
Why Patrik Laine Doesn't Fit the Leafs System
During a recent episode of OverDrive, host Bryan Hayes expressed deep skepticism regarding the Maple Leafs' rumored interest in Laine, bluntly stating he doesn't see the fit. Hayes questioned whether the Leafs' front office is genuinely pursuing the sniper, noting that adding another high-priced, offense-first forward conflicts with Toronto's current roster needs.
Hayes first declared, "I'm not convinced I believe it," about the Maple Leafs-Laine link. He referenced Zurkowsky's report about the Leafs kicking tires on Laine, then commented, "Quite frankly, I don't see the fit."
He admitted he was not a big fan of Laine. "I just don't trust him. I don't trust his body holding up. I don't trust the way he's going to play," he remarked. Hayes later called Toronto "atrocious" defensively last year, and said he didn't trust Laine in a scenario like that.
Hayes said he didn't like Laine's "general mojo" on the ice and how that might influence the Maple Leafs' young players like Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna. He suggested that Leafs general manager John Chayka should look to help the team on defense or center rather than on the wing.
"I do not see a link here. I do not see Laine and the Leafs making sense."Bryan Hayes on Leafs-Laine
Co-host and former Leaf Frankie Corrado agreed. He, too, did not see a fit between Toronto and Laine. He concurred that the Maple Leafs need help on the blue line and an upgrade at center before thinking of improvements elsewhere.
Corrado added that even bringing in Laine on a PTO doesn't make sense, since there are now fewer preseason games for players to make a positive impression. He suggested there is not enough "runway" for a player like Laine to show what he has in so few games. He added, "You know, he's really one-dimensional. It's going to be really hard for him."
Hayes and Corrado hit the nail on the head regarding the Maple Leafs-Laine rumors. Bringing a one-dimensional winger into the fold completely clashes with what the team needs. Laine's glaring defensive shortcomings would make him an incredibly risky gamble. He's not built for, and wouldn't respond to, a bottom-six role. More importantly, forcing him into the top six would take away valuable ice time from the franchise's future in Cowan and McKenna. GM Chayka must resist the temptation of a flashy name and firmly pass on Laine.
Add us as a preferred source on Google