A new one-year deal for Eeli Tolvanen may have quietly nudged the market for Patrik Laine.
Tolvanen landed with the New York Rangers on a contract worth $1.5 million for one season, and that number stands out because it gives clubs a clear reference point for a productive forward still sitting unsigned in September.
For Laine, it could be the kind of price that gets conversations moving.
The former Montreal Canadiens winger is still searching for his next NHL opportunity after a rough stretch that’s taken him from Winnipeg to Columbus and then to Montreal in August 2024. The Canadiens picked him up from the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jordan Harris, but the move never really delivered for either side.
Laine was limited to five games with Montreal last season, and he remains on the market as training camp approaches.
Even so, the talent has never been in question. Across 537 NHL games, he has put up 422 points, and that production is a reminder of what he can still bring when healthy and clicking. His peak came early in Winnipeg, where he exploded for 44 goals and 70 points in the 2017-18 season.
That’s why Tolvanen’s contract matters. Teams that had interest in Tolvanen but came up empty could now pivot to Laine, likely at a similar one-year figure around $1.5 million.
In a market where several veterans are still waiting for offers just weeks before camp, that kind of deal would be a low-risk swing on a player with real offensive upside.
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Canadiens Goalie Situation Suddenly Hinges On Winnipegs Next Move
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Montembeaults future is already a talking point because a move before the deadline has been viewed as plausible, and the uncertainty only grows if the Jets decide to shift course. If Winnipeg starts asking around on Montreals goalie, the discussion could widen quickly, but for now it remains all speculation and there have been no confirmed transactions to report. [Read more 🡒]