Maple Leafs Reportedly Kicking Tires on $34M Veteran Winger

The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly among the teams linked to unsigned free agent forward Patrik Laine. According to a report by Herb Zurkowsky of the Gazette, they are among five teams that have expressed interest in the sniper, but it’s unclear if anything is close.

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Zurkowsky writes, “Since free agency began on July 1, Laine has been linked to the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and, more recently, the Philadelphia Flyers.” He adds, “Most of those teams would make sense as destinations for various reasons. Mostly, if a club is seeking offence, the 6-foot-4, 208-pound Laine can deliver.”

Laine just completed a four-year, $34.8 million contract. He signed it with the Columbus Blue Jackets before moving on to the Montreal Canadiens, where he wasn’t much of a factor except on the power play. Last season, he was out due to injury and played only five games. The question now is: what’s he worth, and how healthy can he stay?

Clearly, there’s concern from teams who know what he’s capable of, but aren’t convinced Laine is a wise investment. There’s only so much teams are willing to spend, which might be why there’s interest in Laine, but he remains unsigned.

Where Would Laine Fit in the Maple Leafs Lineup?

Michael Mazzei of Leafs Nation writes, “While it’s unclear exactly what type of cap hit Laine would end up signing on his next deal, the Leafs would nonetheless need to move out a body if they wish to add him into the mix. He could be used in a bottom-six role to start while also getting ample time on the power-play to make use of his lethal shot.”

The idea of Laine on the Maple Leafs power play is intriguing. So would be pairing the 2nd overall selection from the 2016 draft with the first in Auston Matthews.

Next: Maple Leafs’ Season May Hinge on One Big Matthews Adjustment