Patrik Laine reportedly met with an NHL team as potential signing takes a big step forward

Cutter Gauthier is officially off the board.

The Ducks locked up their restricted free agent forward on a six year, $81 million contract carrying a $13.5 million cap hit, ending a tense negotiation that ran right up against the league's CBA deadline.

With that box checked, attention around Anaheim is turning to a name that has lingered on the open market for weeks, Patrik Laine.

According to Finnish broadcaster Esko Seppänen of the Urheilucast podcast, relayed on X by Aki Nieminen, Laine has already sat down with the Ducks front office.

The timing lines up. Seppänen's reporting had suggested all along that Anaheim wouldn't move on Laine until Gauthier's situation was settled.

The Ducks freed up $15.5 million in cap space earlier this month by mutually parting ways with Chris Kreider.

Gauthier's new deal eats most of that, leaving Anaheim with only a sliver of room.

Still, insiders have floated that a bargain, short term deal in the $1 million range could fit, and for a sniper like Laine trying to rebuild his value, that kind of low risk arrangement makes plenty of sense on both sides.

The 28 year old Finn played just five games with the Montreal Canadiens last season before injury ended his year early.

Still, with 422 points in 537 career games, his shot remains a legitimate weapon on the power play, exactly the kind of finishing touch Anaheim's young core could use as it looks to build on last season's playoff run.

Nothing is signed yet, but with Gauthier's contract now in the books, the Laine watch in Anaheim is heating up fast.

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