What’s the right fit for Patrik Laine?

Sep 17, 2026, 14:30 EDT

Laine is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Credit: Oct 16, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) looks on against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

As training camps across the NHL are set to begin, there are a few notable names who are still without contracts.

One player that keeps coming up is Patrik Laine. The former second-overall pick recently came to the end of a tumultuous tenure with the Montreal Canadiens, where he appeared in just five games last season due to injury, even though he stated he could’ve returned in the middle of the 2025-26 campaign.

On this week’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton discuss where Laine could land ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Carter Hutton: I still think he’s just a project, right? He’s a guy that’s a filler. He doesn’t really bring a ton of value…when you’re trying to get a guy to play a complete game, I think [Vladimir] Tarasenko can bring a little more than Laine can.

Tyler Yaremchuk: I saw someone the other day mentioned on Twitter. They’re like, “Ah, could Philly maybe be an interesting fit for Patrick Laine?’ Honestly, I don’t see him and Rick Tocchet being a fit at all. I’m not totally sure if that’s one that makes a ton of sense.

I think he’s got to go to a little bit of a softer landing spot. The Anaheim Ducks have been rumored as a potential fit for him. I mean, that one’s interesting. They obviously lost Chris Kreider, but Kreider’s a better five-on-five producer than Laine. I know there’s a big age difference between the two.

Carter: The thing is, someone would have to take him right where it’s like he slides right into PP1. Like, so who are you? Because if not, what’s the point of having him? He’s not going to give you great five-on-five minutes. He’s got to be kind of on the power play, in my opinion.

Tyler: Yeah, and for that reason, right there, I’m curious. I will stay in California with it, but the Los Angeles Kings continue to make a lot of sense to me. Their power play was 28th in the NHL last season, and listen, I’m not making a direct comparison here between Anze Kopitar and Patrick Laine, wildly different hockey players, but you lost a guy in Kopitar, who did still produce a decent amount of offense in his last season. That would also leave, again not the same spot on the power play, but there’s an open spot on that power play. I’m curious if Laine could maybe be a fit there. Over the last three seasons in the NHL, they’re 25th in power play percentage. So, you look at a team that’s been desperate for offense for a really long time. I think Patrick Laing could be a good fit there.