After Patrik Laine's been linked in speculation to a handful of NHL teams, some are less realistic than others. Meanwhile, Brock Nelson's next contract isn't in sight.

The Patrik Laine rumor mill was abuzz early last week when The Athletic's Joe Smith and Michael Russo suggested Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin would take a chance on the Columbus Blue Jackets winger... if he could afford him. 

Smith and Russo cited NHL Network's Mike Rupp suggesting the Wild could kick the tires on Laine, believing they need the winger's star power and ability to help carry the offensive workload. However, he was concerned about how well the freelancing Laine would fit into the Wild's team-oriented system.

The Wild's limited cap space is an issue. Laine carries an $8.7-million cap hit through 2025-26, while the cap-strapped Wild have just over $756,000 of cap room. The Blue Jackets would have to retain half of Laine's salary in the deal, meaning the Wild must ship some salary to Columbus or shed some in a separate deal.

Laine was also linked to the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens. However, The Hockey News' Jason Newland recently cited Sportsnet's Eric Engels pouring cold water on that possibility. 

Appearing last week on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro, Engels said he considered the Canadiens' rumored interest in Laine “pretty minimal.” He noted the winger's overall game is not up to speed, plus he could be reluctant to move to a high-pressure market like Montreal.

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck addressed the notion of a reunion between Laine and the Jets. Laine had his best offensive seasons with the Jets before getting traded to Columbus for Pierre-Luc Dubois in January 2021.

Billeck said it would make a great story but sees Laine as something other than a fit within the Jets' current roster. He also pointed out they need more cap room to acquire his contract.

Turning to the New York Islanders, Brock Nelson is among the notable forwards eligible for UFA status next July.

The versatile 32-year-old forward is among the Islanders' most consistent scorers. He's in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million.

The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner noted Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello currently isn't focused on contract extensions. Rosner observed some Isles fans believe Lamoriello should peddle Nelson this summer for as much as possible while his trade value is high. 

Nelson won't be going anywhere if the Islanders are in playoff contention throughout this season. Nevertheless, Arthur Staple of The Athletic believes Nelson could fetch a sizeable return if Lamoriello becomes a seller at the March trade deadline. His performance this season will determine his value in the trade market.

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