Patrik Laine is one step closer to signing a new NHL contract
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The list of unsigned NHL veterans keeps shrinking as training camps roll on, and insiders believe the wait for several notable free agents is about to end.
Chief among them is winger Patrik Laine, whose name has circulated around multiple rosters since July without a resolution.
He is not alone. A handful of established players remain without contracts just days before the regular season gets underway, and fresh reporting suggests that could change soon.
Multiple Deals Could Land Soon
Daily Faceoff's David Pagnotta offered an encouraging update on the stalled market.
We should get word on which multiple free agents have finally found new homes over the next few days. The likes of Michael Bunting, Patrik Laine, Carson Soucy (PTO in Columbus), Vladimir Tarasenko and Philipp Kurashev are evaluating options.
That timeline lines up with a league-wide push to get rosters finalized before puck drop, and it hints that front offices have been quietly working through the fine print rather than stalling outright.
Laine's Situation Stands Out
Laine's case has drawn the most attention. The 28-year-old sniper has been connected to teams including the Rangers, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Wild, Flyers, Islanders and Panthers, with speculation pointing toward a short, incentive-heavy deal designed to limit risk for whichever club takes a chance on him.
Soucy's path looks different since he is already testing his fit with Columbus on a professional tryout, while Bunting, Tarasenko and Kurashev round out a group of proven scorers still shopping for the right situation.
If Pagnotta's report holds, hockey fans could see several signings trickle in before the week is out, reshaping bottom-six and middle-six mixes across the league just as opening night approaches.
For teams still hunting for scoring depth or power-play punch, the coming days may finally bring clarity on where these players land.
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