What Everyone Fears About Patrik Laine Could Benefit the Senators

The Ottawa Senators are looking to take the next step in the playoffs in 2026-27, and Patrik Laine could be a cost-effective player to bring in to help the team do that.

The Finnish winger, who entered the NHL as the second-overall selection of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 Draft, spent most of last season on injured reserve. He made just five appearances for the Montreal Canadiens, with one assist, but stated after the season that he could have returned to play even as early as after the New Year.

It has been quite a fall from grace for a player who scored 140 goals (250 points) in his first 306 games. The trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets did not work out well, with just 64 goals in 174 games, and his time in Montreal did not pan out either, though he did have 20 goals in 52 games in 2024-25.

Laine may not be the player he once was, but another fresh start could be what he needs to get back to scoring ways and being an effective NHL player once again. The Ottawa Senators could provide an ideal situation for him to succeed.

The 411 On Laine: One-Dimensional But Valuable

Laine is known as a one-dimensional player, but he scores goals and has a shot that very few players in the league do. For the Ottawa Senators, having even more goal-scoring can only be a good thing.

The Senators have a well-rounded team, with good scorers, playmakers, and a physicality that few teams in the league can boast. Goaltending is the real question for the team, but the rest of the roster looks primed to be effective once again. Last year, the Senators finished eighth in the league in goals scored and 13th in goals against.

Adding more goals would help the Senators push beyond the first round of the post-season and cement their place as one of the league’s most competitive teams. Laine could be a valuable addition to that equation.

Laine’s 20 goals in his last full NHL season would have ranked sixth on the Senators last season. If he could score at that same pace, but in a full 84 games in 2026-27, he would be on pace for 32 goals – good enough for second on the team last year, one behind Drake Batherson and two behind Tim Stützle.

To have a player with that capability, being an effective power-play option, as well as being deployed almost exclusively in the offensive zone, could boost the Senators’ roster and tip them over the edge. His best years came in Canada, and sticking around in the nation’s capital could be a smart move for both parties to explore.

Incentive-Laden Contract Possible

The biggest benefit for the Ottawa Senators is that they could likely land Laine on an extremely manageable contract, one that has very few cap implications this season and would be heavily bonus-laden.

It’s late August, and Laine remains unsigned. His market has dried up significantly, so if he has genuine interest in maintaining an NHL career, he likely needs to accept a deal close to the league minimum, with plenty of performance bonuses he can hit throughout the year to increase his earnings.

The Senators could offer incremental bonuses tied to goals scored and games played. They could set targets such as 10, 20, 30, maybe even 40 goals to truly incentivize his efforts on the ice. Additionally, targets such as 50, 60, 70, or even 80 games could boost his earnings and make him a key player on the team.

With the cap expected to jump another $10 million or so next year, taking on some bonuses now is easy and gives Ottawa flexibility, with just over $4 million left this season. Laine is coming off a contract that paid him $8.7 million a year, so if Ottawa can get him cheaply, with incentive targets he needs to increase his money, it could be a deal that works well for both sides.

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