Former Montreal Canadiens sniper Patrik Laine is still unsigned, and there's a very logical reason for that. Read on to find out what it is.
We’re now deep in the dog days of summer, and former Montreal Canadiens sniper Patrik Laine remains a UFA looking for a new home. For some, that may be surprising since the big Finnish winger was an integral part of the Habs' qualification for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. After all, he did score 20 goals in just 52 games that season and was a force to be reckoned with on the power play.
However, last season, Laine only played in five games and was on the fourth line before suffering a core muscle injury that took him out of the lineup. He was supposed to miss three to four months of action since he needed surgery, but he never got back in the lineup.
At the end of the season, at the Canadiens’ dressing room clear-up day, Laine confirmed that he wasn’t injured at the end of the season. That confirmation didn’t surprise anyone, and TSN’s Pierre LeBrun explained that by playing so few games, Laine made himself eligible to sign a bonus-laden contract. The insider also said it would make him more appealing to teams. In other words, he believed the fact that he wouldn’t cost too much in base salary and would only become expensive if he could perform offensively- and the gamble paid off- would be a big incentive to sign him.
While that’s sound logic, it doesn’t take into account the fact that Laine has quite a lengthy injury history. In the last six seasons, he has never played more than 56 games in a year. Had he come back to play last season, he would at least have been able to show that he was back in shape and over his injuries. The last time he spoke to the media, Laine said:
I know I’ll be playing in this league for a long time; that’s not a question, that’s never something I’ve doubted. I just need an opportunity. I’m in great shape; it feels good. […] That’s definitely something I’m not worried about.
If he were asked about his future in the league now, Laine might have a different answer. No matter how good a player was and how high he was drafted, the NHL is a results-based business, and if you don’t keep showing you have the goods, you may not get another opportunity. It’s a shame, as Laine was nothing but a first-rate professional with the Canadiens this season, but he may have to settle for a professional tryout to get another chance with an NHL team.
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