Patrik Laine is still sitting there as an unrestricted free agent, and the Calgary Flames have at least been linked to the idea of bringing him in. Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun said Calgary may have interest, which naturally puts Laine’s fit under the microscope.
Laine’s track record still carries real weight. The Finnish winger was taken second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016 and quickly built a reputation as one of the league’s most dangerous shooters. He broke out in a big way in 2017-18, burying 44 goals and finishing as the runner-up for the Rocket Richard Trophy.
His career has taken plenty of turns since then. Winnipeg moved him to the Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2021, and while his point totals there were solid, the next chapter brought more turbulence.
In late 2023-24, Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program to focus on his mental health. He was later dealt to the Montreal Canadiens in August 2024.
Montreal offered brief flashes of the old Laine, but injuries quickly took over. Core muscle surgery derailed his 2025-26 season and limited him to five regular season games.
He did work his way back toward full health late in the year, but he never got into the lineup during the playoffs. Now he’s looking for a fresh start.
From Calgary’s side, the appeal is obvious: goals, and lots of them on the power play. The Flames came out of the gate in 2026-27 with a serious finishing problem, scoring only three goals in their first three games.
Laine would immediately give Ryan Huska a proven weapon on the man advantage, especially after he scored 15 power-play goals in just 52 games during his injury-shortened 2024-25 season in Montreal. That left-circle one-timer is still the headline tool in his game.
There’s also the contract angle, and that may be the part that makes this idea most interesting for Calgary. Because Laine spent more than 100 days on IR last season, he qualifies for a one-year deal loaded with performance bonuses.
That would let Craig Conroy keep the base salary close to the league minimum while building in incentives tied to games played and production. In other words, the Flames could take the swing without tying up long-term money.
If it works, they get a scorer. If it doesn’t, they can move on without much damage.
Of course, the concerns are just as clear. Laine has struggled badly at five-on-five, where his defensive engagement has been minimal and his impact away from the puck has been a problem.
That can be a tough fit for a Flames team built around Huska’s structured, hard-checking approach. A pure power-play specialist doesn’t always blend cleanly with that kind of system.
Then there’s the injury history, which is impossible to ignore. Over the last five seasons, Laine has played just 186 games, and he hasn’t completed a full season since 2018-19. Even with a low-risk contract, Calgary would still be betting on availability, and that’s been the issue for a long time now.
LeBrun also said the Flames “want to look at their young guys first.” That fits with Calgary recalling Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Castagna from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.
It makes sense for the team to see what those players can do before diving deeper into free agency. But if the offense keeps sputtering, Laine’s name is going to stay in the conversation.
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Craig Conroy has been tied to several veteran forwards in free agency, with Patrik Laine among the names on the board as Calgary looks for help up front. The idea is simple enough: if the internal options do not wake the offense up soon, the Flames may have to make a short-term addition and hope a fresh face can at least steady the attack while the bigger issues get sorted out. [Read more 🡒]