NHL Insider Floats Surprising Name as a Fix for Red Wings’ Scoring Woes

Detroit’s scoring issues at even strength remain a central storyline heading into the 2026-27 season, and head coach Todd McLellan knows it. He also isn’t pretending there’s an easy fix.

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“I wish I could say it’s as simple as, like, ‘Let’s play a little heavier… along the boards, around the net front, screens, tip-ins, deflections,'” McLellan said, according to Max Bultman of The Athletic. “It’s not. It’s not that simple; it’s not that easy. We are a good entry team. We aren’t as strong forechecking, so that has to blossom a little bit more.”

The comments prompted NHL insider Pierre LeBrun to float an unexpected name as a potential solution. “I wonder about Patrik Laine as a possible fit in Detroit?” LeBrun wrote. Laine is still out there, unsigned as an unrestricted free agent. There’s been talk about a professional tryout (PTO), or an inexpensive one-year, bonus-heavy deal. Neither has happened.

Laine doesn’t exactly solve Detroit’s 5-v-5 forechecking issues. That said, he can score.

Making Sense of a Laine to the Red Wings Idea

Responses were as one would expect on social media. Some pointed to Laine’s injury history and limited game action in recent seasons as red flags, while others questioned whether a pure shooter addresses Detroit’s specific need for 5-on-5 scoring. Given Laine is a power play specialist, those concerns make sense.

A number of fans also noted Laine’s rocky exits from both Columbus and Winnipeg, wondering whether any team would be willing to take another chance on him. His past could explain why he’s struggling to find work today.

Others were more open to the idea, framing it as a low-risk, potentially high-reward flyer for a team that lost scoring punch this offseason and has little to lose by swinging on a player no one else seems to have much interest in. Shawn Horcoff is the interim general manager in Detroit and he should be looking to make savvy decisions that will lead the organization toward giving him a chance as GM in a full-time role. A productive Laine on a team-friendly deal could go a long way to giving ownership the confidence to give Horcoff the job.

Whether the speculation goes anywhere remains to be seen, but it demonstrates how much pressure Detroit is under to find answers up front.

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