Patrik Laine's free agency search narrows down to five teams

According to Montreal Gazette reporter Herb Zurkowsky, Laine has been linked to the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and, more recently, the Philadelphia Flyers since free agency opened on July 1.

Zurkowsky noted most of those clubs make sense as landing spots, especially any team seeking a boost in offense given Laine's 6-foot-4, 208-pound frame.

The 28-year-old winger is coming off a lost season in Montreal, where he appeared in just five games and recorded a single assist.

He had entered the year on the mend from core-muscle surgery in late October that carried a three to four-month recovery timeline, and while he insisted he felt healthy by mid-January, he never fully returned to game action.

Of the five teams, Toronto presents an intriguing wrinkle. The Leafs hired Andy O'Brien this offseason as vice president of sport science. It is a department focused on rehab, conditioning, and keeping players healthy.

Overall, this could appeal to a player with Laine's injury history. A move to Toronto would also reunite Laine with Auston Matthews, the two players selected first and second overall in the 2016 draft.

Despite the uncertainty, Laine's track record remains hard to ignore. He has scored 224 goals and tallied 422 points across 537 career NHL games, including a 44-goal campaign in his second season with the Winnipeg Jets.

With no contract in hand as August rolls on, it may only be a matter of time before one of these five teams makes a move.

Although don't rule out the possibility of a PTO. This is another low-risk option that some teams wouldn't mind exercising.

Also read on House Of Hockey :
Edmonton Oilers reportedly have a trade on their radar involving centerman