When it comes to Patrik Laine, the Colorado Avalanche should ere on the side of caution.

The Avalanche need more depth scoring, particularly after another disappointing playoff run, and Laine remains one of the most naturally gifted shooters in the NHL. Even after everything he has been through, there is still a version of Laine who can change a game with one shot.

But that version of Laine has been hard to come by, 

And for an Avalanche team trying to maximize what could be a very important season, taking a chance on a player whose biggest question is whether he’ll actually be available may not be worth the gamble.

Laine remains unsigned as of July 31, with his name continuing to surface in free-agent speculation involving teams such as the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings. The former No. 2 overall pick is clearly still generating interest around the league.

The talent isn’t the problem.

The availability is.

Laine appeared in just five games for the Montreal Canadiens during the 2025-26 season, recording one assist before undergoing surgery for a core muscle injury. He ultimately didn’t return to the lineup despite being medically cleared late in the season.

That came after he played only 52 games in 2024-25 and just 18 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets the season before that..

Over the past three seasons, Laine has appeared in only 75 games combined. Even going back five seasons, he hasn’t played more than 56 games in a single season during that stretch.

For a player who is going to be asked to provide meaningful offensive production, that’s a genuine concern..

Laine signed a four-year, $34.8 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022 that carried an average annual value of $8.7 million a year.

Nobody in their right mind would give Laine that kind of money now, and that could very well be the issue. Laine is a good player, but for a guy who’s been injured constantly, there has to be some compromise, and understandably so, on his end. It’s imperative. After all, he only played in five games last season.

If Laine is willing to take a short-term contract loaded with performance bonuses, perhaps there’s a conversation to be had. A one-year prove-it deal could make sense for a team willing to bet on his talent while protecting itself against another lost season.

But even then, Colorado has to ask whether that’s the best way to spend its limited resources.

Laine can still score, as far as we know. He scored 44 goals for the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18 and entered the league looking like he could become one of the NHL’s premier goal scorers. He has 224 goals in 537 career regular-season games, and his shot remains one of the most dangerous weapons in hockey.

The problem is that Colorado doesn’t need to be reminded what Laine can do when everything goes right.

The Avalanche need to know what they’re getting when things don’t.