The Senators kicked around the idea of going after Patrik Laine this summer, but that conversation appears to have cooled off fast.
According to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, Ottawa was among the teams that considered Laine, though the belief now is that the 28-year-old does not fit the roster well enough for the organization to keep pushing. Laine, who has flashed big-time scoring ability at points in his career, has also battled availability issues, and last season he was limited to just five games with Montreal.
There is still no deal in place for Laine, even though he is eligible for performance incentives on a one-year contract. Garrioch reported that Toronto, Tampa Bay, Florida, and Dallas were also thought to have shown interest at various points, and while nothing has come together yet, he is expected to find a landing spot before long.
In Philadelphia, the Flyers are taking a different approach to camp. Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the current expectation is that the club will not bring in any tryout players, choosing instead to sort through its own internal battles for roster spots.
That means prospects such as Oliver Bonk and Alex Bump will get a real chance to make their case. With only a four-game preseason schedule, the Flyers are leaning toward giving those younger players extended looks rather than adding outside tryouts.
Meanwhile, Flames prospect Bode Laylin has made a college change. He announced on Instagram that he will play at the University of Minnesota when he begins his NCAA career next season.
Laylin, a Calgary sixth-round pick in June, had originally committed to the University of St. Thomas. His father previously coached the Tommies, but was hired by the Golden Gophers this summer, and that shift helped steer Laylin to Minnesota.
The blueliner spent last season with USHL Tri-City, where he put up 38 points in 55 games, and he will move on to WHL Everett this season before heading to college.
In Other News...
Flyers Fans Just Got An Early Look At The Next Wave
The next glimpse of the Flyers pipeline is almost here, with the club set to open its 2026-27 Rookie Camp at the PPL Center in Allentown on Sept. 11. The official roster gives fans an early look at a group built around 15 rookie forwards, eight rookie defensemen and three rookie goaltenders, a mix that includes draft picks from recent years along with signed players trying to carve out a longer-term role in the organization.
For a team that has spent plenty of time talking about development, this is the first real on-ice test of where that next wave stands. The week will include skating sessions and a pair of rookie games against the Rangers, which should offer a useful first read on how quickly this group is coming together before the pace picks up for the rest of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Matvei Michkov Enters A Huge Flyers Season With Even More At Stake
Matvei Michkov is heading into a big Flyers season with the kind of expectations that follow a player who has already shown he can tilt the ice, especially after a playoff run raised the bar even higher. The third-year winger spent the offseason training in Russia, and former Flyers captain Chris Pronger came away with the impression that Michkov looks better physically and still has room to grow as a player.
The next step may come from how the Flyers choose to use him. One idea being discussed is giving Michkov a new look alongside Trevor Zegras, either at even strength or on the power play, in hopes of squeezing more production out of one of the teams most talented young pieces. For a club trying to build on last seasons momentum, Michkovs development could end up being one of the defining storylines of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Rebuild Comes Down To One Hard Truth Fans Can't Ignore
The Flyers rebuild has followed a familiar modern NHL script, one built around patience, pain and the draft lottery. In consecutive years, Philadelphia came away with Matvei Michkov at seventh overall in 2023 and Porter Martone at sixth overall in 2024, a reminder that the route back to relevance often starts with losing enough to land premium talent. Chris Pronger recently underscored the value of those high-end picks, framing them as a central ingredient for contenders in the salary-cap era, even as he acknowledged there are different ways to get there.
Danny Briere has tried to keep the long view in focus, stressing that the organization needs room to maneuver as it keeps reshaping the roster. For a fan base that has waited through too many uneven seasons, the obvious question is how long that flexibility can remain theoretical before it has to become a real upgrade on the ice. The Flyers have the kind of young pieces that can make the rebuild look promising, but the harder part is turning that promise into the kind of team that can actually finish the job. [Read more 🡒]