Why the Toronto Maple Leafs Should (and Shouldn’t) Sign Patrik Laine in Free Agency
As the NHL offseason and free agency continues to drag into August, an interesting name continues to float around the free agent market. That player, is former 2nd overall pick Patrik Laine. The 28-year-old former 44 goal scorer is once again looking for a fresh start, and according to reports the Maple Leafs appears to be in the mix.
According to a recent report from the Montreal Gazette's Herb Zurkowsky, the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of five teams who have been linked to the Finnish winger. Laine has reportedly also drawn interest from the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers.
While adding a player of Laine’s talent is undeniably tempting, his signing would come with its fair share of red flags.
Today I take a look at three reasons the Maple Leafs should pull the trigger on signing Laine, and two reasons they should walk away.
3 Reasons the Leafs SHOULD Sign Patrik Laine
Low-Risk, High-Reward Offensive Upside
So far this summer, Laine's free agent market has been quiet due to recent injury struggles, meaning he can likely be scooped up on a bargain, one-year "prove it" contract, with compensation heavily tied to production. When healthy, Laine is one of the best goal scorers in the NHL. Bringing in a player with a career 0.79 points-per-game average on a heavily discounted deal gives Toronto an opportunity to add top-tier talent for pennies on the dollar. Especially one who is motivated.
The 2016 Draft Connection
Signing Laine would bring the top two picks of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft together under one roof. Slotting Laine into the top six alongside Auston Matthews, who went first overall, just one pick ahead of him, or placing him on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, would create a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Giving Laine the chance to rejuvenate his career alongside world class playmakers could easily reawaken his 40-goal potential.
A Power-Play Weapon
Every year Toronto's power play always seems to go through some baffling cold streaks when the games matter most. Laine’s blistering one-timer from the left circle is a game-breaking asset. Adding him to the man-advantage would force penalty killers to respect his side of the ice, subsequently opening up more passing lanes for Gavin McKenna and shooting lanes for Matthews or Darren Raddysh.
2 Reasons the Leafs SHOULDN'T Sign Patrik Laine
A Lengthy Injury History
The biggest glaring issue with Laine is his inability to stay on the ice. He is coming off an incredibly frustrating tenure with the Montreal Canadiens, playing just five games last season before being shut down due to a core-muscle injury that required surgery. Given the physical toll of an 84-game season plus a grueling playoff run, relying on Laine to stay healthy is a major risk.
Roster Redundancy and Cap Constraints
Does Toronto really need another offense-first winger? The Maple Leafs are perpetually navigating a salary cap crunch, and every dollar matters. While Laine is a prolific shooter, his defensive game has often been criticized. Allocating any remaining cap space to another scoring winger instead of prioritizing other roster upgrades could be an issue. Unless the deal is fully buriable then this might be a waste of resources.
The Verdict: If Laine is willing to sign a team-friendly contract to prove he still belongs in the NHL, the Maple Leafs should absolutely take a swing. However, if a bidding war ensues with the Rangers, Lightning, Wild, or Flyers, Toronto's front office would be wise to steer clear.