Patrik Laine is still looking for a new home this offseason, but according to one NHL insider, two teams have emerged as the frontrunners, and this could be an indication that he won't be leaving the division.
Pierre McGuire was recently on Toronto Sports Rush, and the first question he was asked was about Laine and the fit in Toronto. He believes Laine would be a great addition for the Maple Leafs but could also see the Florida Panthers being interested in him.
"Patrik Laine would fit really well [in Toronto]. I thought Montreal would probably look at not signing him, which they clearly have not. And I thought that potentially the Florida Panthers, especially with Brad Marchand's injury, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, because of the ability for this guy to score especially in the power play, would be a really good hookup," McGuire said.
"If you were to ask me the leading candidates, I'd say probably the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs."
Patrik Laine could still make an impact in the right situation
Patrik Laine had a disappointing tenure with the Montreal Canadiens as he played in only 57 total games over two seasons. Prior to the 2024-25 season, the Canadiens would send defenseman Jordan Harris to Columbus for Laine and a 2026 second-round pick.
In his first season, he showed he could still be a productive scorer with 20 goals in just 52 games, but injuries were the biggest thing that held him back. Last season, he got hurt five games into the season, and by the time he was ready to return, the Canadiens' lines were pretty well set. He just didn't have a spot in the lineup to help.
However, to McGuire's point, Laine can still score, and with either the Maple Leafs or the Panthers, he could return to being a 20+ goal scorer. He has done really well on the power play, with 15 of his 20 goals two seasons ago occurring on the man advantage. In fact, over the past four seasons, Laine has scored 48 goals, with half coming on the power play.
Entering free agency, Patrik Laine looked like a low-risk, high-reward move, as he could sign a bonus-laden contract after missing so many games due to injury. This is still an option for teams, but at this point, Laine may be better off signing a professional tryout, especially if he can land with a team like the Florida Panthers.
It will be interesting to see where he ultimately ends up but it seems like the chances are growing that the Montreal Canadiens are going to see him often with a division rival.
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