Maple Leafs Have Intriguing Opportunity With Former Canadiens Forward

The Toronto Maple Leafs could have an intriguing opportunity to add another experienced scoring forward, with former Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine being suggested as a player worth bringing into training camp on a professional tryout.

Laine remains an unsigned free agent after leaving Montreal, and his availability has naturally generated interest because of the offensive upside he has demonstrated throughout his NHL career. Although his recent seasons have been complicated by injuries and inconsistency, the Finnish forward has previously shown that he can be a dangerous goal scorer when healthy and confident.

For Toronto, the appeal of a PTO would be straightforward. Instead of immediately committing to a contract, the Maple Leafs could invite Laine to camp and allow him to compete for a roster position. That would give the organization an opportunity to evaluate his skating, conditioning, health and offensive effectiveness before making a longer-term decision.

The idea is particularly interesting because Toronto continues to look for ways to improve its forward group. The Maple Leafs already have significant talent at the top of their lineup, but additional scoring depth could become valuable over an 82-game season. A healthy Laine could potentially provide another shooting threat and give the coaching staff more options when constructing the power play.

Laine’s reputation as a shooter is one of the biggest reasons the proposal makes sense. Earlier in his career, he established himself as one of the NHL’s most dangerous pure goal scorers. He recorded four consecutive seasons with at least 28 goals and 50 points early in his career, demonstrating the offensive ceiling that made him one of the most highly regarded young players in the league.

The challenge, of course, is determining how much of that player remains.

Laine’s time in Montreal did not unfold as many had hoped. After arriving with considerable expectations, injuries disrupted his opportunities and prevented him from establishing the consistency that made him such a dangerous scorer earlier in his career.

Now, however, he has another chance to reset.

Recent reports indicate that Laine has been skating and playing in a competitive summer setting, providing teams with an opportunity to evaluate his current condition. He has remained a free agent since July 1, meaning he is still looking for the right opportunity to continue his NHL career.

That makes a PTO potentially attractive for both sides.

For Laine, a successful training camp could give him the opportunity to demonstrate that he can still be an effective NHL scorer. For Toronto, the team could potentially acquire an experienced player without immediately making a significant financial commitment.

The Maple Leafs have used this type of strategy before. In 2024, Toronto brought former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty into training camp on a PTO, and he ultimately earned a one-year contract after making the team.

That history makes the Laine suggestion particularly interesting.

Pacioretty’s successful PTO showed that Toronto is willing to give experienced players an opportunity when management believes they could still contribute. Laine would obviously be a different type of player, but the basic concept would be similar: bring in a veteran with something to prove and see whether he can earn a roster spot.

The potential reward could be significant.

If Laine enters camp healthy and rediscovers his scoring touch, Toronto could suddenly have another player capable of threatening opposing goaltenders from distance. His shooting ability could also give the Maple Leafs another option on the power play, where one elite shot can change the way opposing penalty kills defend.

There would also be considerable pressure on Laine to make the opportunity count.

A PTO does not guarantee a contract or a roster position. He would have to prove that he can keep up with the pace of the team, remain healthy and contribute consistently enough to justify taking a spot away from another player.

For the Maple Leafs, that competition could actually be beneficial.

Toronto has young players who will be trying to establish themselves, while experienced veterans will be competing for limited roster positions. Bringing Laine into that environment could create another layer of competition during training camp.

The biggest question is whether Laine’s potential offensive upside outweighs the uncertainty surrounding his recent history.

There is no guarantee that the player who once scored 44 goals will return to that level. But a PTO does not require Toronto to make that assumption. The organization could simply give him an opportunity to prove himself.

That is what makes the proposal appealing.

Toronto could potentially gain a proven NHL scorer without having to immediately make a major commitment. If Laine struggles, the club could move on. If he impresses, the Maple Leafs could consider signing him.

For Laine, meanwhile, Toronto could represent an opportunity to play alongside an established NHL core and compete for meaningful games.

Nothing has been finalized between the two sides, and the PTO idea remains a suggestion rather than an official Maple Leafs transaction. But with Laine still available, his name is likely to remain part of the conversation as teams finalize their rosters for the upcoming season.