Patrik Laine may have just found the perfect landing spot after star player undergoes surgery

That opens a door in Florida, and Patrik Laine happens to be standing right outside it looking for work.

Laine isn't just some name floating around free agency for no reason.

He's got real ties to this organization.

Paul Maurice coached him during his best years in Winnipeg, back when Laine was dropping 40 goals a season like it was nothing.

He also grew up playing alongside Sasha Barkov in Tampere, Finland, long before either of them was an NHL name.

Those relationships matter when a guy is trying to find a soft landing spot.

He's reportedly been training in South Florida this summer too, which either means nothing or means everything, depending on how you want to read it.

The injury history is the real question mark.

Laine barely played last season in Montreal, appearing in just five games before a core muscle issue ended his year early.

Even after getting cleared, he never got back on the ice, and Montreal went on an incredible playoff run all the way to the Eastern Conference final without him.

Nobody's talking about a long term deal.

Laine is probably looking at a one year, prove it contract wherever he lands, and a training camp tryout with the Panthers could be exactly the kind of opportunity that resets his value.

Florida doesn't have a ton of roster spots open, and cap space is tight, though Marchand landing on LTIR could free some room up.

The expectation right now is that rookie Sandis Vilmanis gets a shot on a line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen while Marchand is out.

Still, bringing in Laine for a look costs Florida almost nothing.

If it doesn't work, they move on. If it does, they might have found a steal.

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