Patrik Laine reportedly spotted in a Canadian city as NHL comeback rumors heat up

Patrik Laine might be in Ottawa, and Senators fans are already running with it.

A Reddit user in the team's community claimed to have seen the unsigned winger at Ottawa International Airport, and nothing has been confirmed by either side. Still, the timing is tough to ignore.

The chatter spread fast on X, where fans passed the sighting around and got hyped.

Through 16 games, Ottawa's power play sits at just 12.5 percent, with eight goals on 64 chances.

That ranks among the worst marks in the league.

Laine has long been one of the most dangerous power play shooters around, and his one-timer from the left circle would give the Senators another real weapon next to Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens.

Laine is 28, was the second overall pick in 2016 and has 224 goals in 537 NHL games.

Last season, though, was a washout.

He played five games for Montreal before core muscle surgery ended his year, and the Canadiens let his contract expire.

Ottawa has been linked to him before.

Back in early September, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen reported that the Senators had discussed a signing but a deal looked very unlikely.

Other reports have said general manager Steve Staios explored the idea and that Laine's camp reached out.

An airport sighting proves very little.

Players travel for plenty of reasons, and a Reddit post is not a signing.

But Laine has been waiting a long time for a call, and the Senators have a glaring need on the man advantage.

A short, bonus-heavy deal would keep the risk close to zero.

For now, all anyone can do is wait for an official word out of Ottawa, and keep refreshing those feeds all day.

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