Patrik Laine’s next NHL stop may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.
The Canadiens are no longer part of the picture for the 28-year-old forward, but interest is already building elsewhere, and one of the teams reportedly in the mix would be a familiar face for Montreal fans: the Tampa Bay Lightning.
According to Pierre LeBrun and David Pagnotta, multiple teams have looked into signing Laine, with Tampa Bay among them. For a Canadiens rival in the same division to be circling a player like Laine is a notable twist, especially given how little he played last season.
The reason teams are paying attention is simple: the contract math could work in their favor.
Laine spent more than 100 days on the injured list last season, which makes him eligible for a performance bonus contract. That setup would allow whichever team signs him to carry him for very little against the salary cap.
That detail also helps explain why Laine stayed on Montreal’s injured list as long as he did, even though he was reportedly ready to return before the season ended.
His year was a rough one. He appeared in just five games, missed a long stretch, and saw his season end abruptly.
Still, the appeal is obvious. At 28, Laine’s talent remains intact, and when he’s healthy, he’s still seen as a natural 30-goal scorer and a dangerous power-play threat.
For a contender like Tampa Bay, that makes him an intriguing bet: limited financial risk, and a ceiling that could still pay off in a big way.
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