MIAMI — Unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine continues to turn heads as the 2026 offseason progresses. The Finnish sniper was recently spotted back on the ice competing in a high-caliber Florida summer league—and notably doing so while wearing his Montreal Canadiens-colored equipment.
Having officially entered the market on July 1, the former 44-goal scorer remains unsigned. However, every game action snippet gives NHL franchises another crucial opportunity to evaluate his overall health, mobility, and conditioning ahead of upcoming training camps.
Healthy, Shooting with Power, and Displaying His Signature Release
After missing nearly the entire 2025–26 campaign due to injury—appearing in just five games for the Canadiens—Laine appears to be fully recovered.
In video footage shared by SoFlo Hockey, Laine was seen taking shifts alongside established NHL talent, including Florida Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones, as well as Quebec native Anthony Duclair.
- The Standout Moment: Stepping cleanly into his release, Laine unleashed his trademark shot with the same lethal velocity that once made him one of the most dangerous goal scorers in the world.
- Health Check: Moving fluidly on the ice, he showcased no visible lingering effects from the injuries that derailed his previous season.
Power-Play Value Keeps NHL Teams Intrigued
While 5-on-5 consistency was a challenge during his tenure in Montreal, Laine’s specialist ability on the man advantage remains elite. Two seasons ago with the Habs, he racked up 20 goals in just 52 games—an impressive 15 of which came on the power play.
That specialized production continues to draw interest from teams looking to upgrade their special teams units without requiring Laine to carry top-line minutes.
«From what I’ve been told, the Islanders did have conversations with Patrik Laine’s camp… but I don’t believe they were willing to offer him anything more than a Professional Tryout (PTO),» reported insider Stefen Rosner regarding New York’s stance.
While summer league footage won’t guarantee a standard contract on its own, looking fully healthy, competing hard against NHL peers, and displaying a lethal release gives interested clubs plenty of reason to keep his number on speed dial.