Unrestricted free agent forward Patrik Laine remains without an NHL contract as July 2026 comes to a close, with interested teams hesitating to offer guaranteed multi-year deals due to his extensive injury history.
The 28-year-old Finnish winger played in just five games during the 2025-26 season following an injury-plagued campaign the prior year.
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Over the last five NHL seasons, Laine has appeared in 186 out of a possible 410 games for his respective clubs.
Despite his limited overall action, Laine demonstrated significant value on special teams during the 2024-25 season in Montreal, scoring 20 goals in 52 games, with 15 of those markers coming on the power play to rank fifth in the league.
Islanders Opt for Tryout Offer
The New York Islanders explored the possibility of adding the former second-overall pick to boost their struggling power play, which ranked 30th in the league.
However, initial discussions between the two parties did not yield a standard contract offer.
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Reports indicate that the Islanders maintained a firm stance against offering anything beyond a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement for training camp, citing an existing forward logjam and tight salary cap space managed by general manager Mathieu Darche.
Although Laine is eligible for a bonus-laden performance contract under Collective Bargaining Agreement rules despite being under 35 years old, his camp continues to evaluate market options for a guaranteed contract.
Other clubs, including the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, have been linked as potential landing spots seeking offensive firepower, though questions remain regarding Laine's top-end shot speed following his recent lay-offs.
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With NHL training camps approaching, the forward has recently resumed competitive on-ice workouts in a Florida summer league alongside other established league players while seeking his next standard deal.
