Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche should stay away from Patrik Laine, according to a The Hockey News columnist who is warning the team against this risky gamble.
It’s now August, and the free-agent pool has become extremely thin. There are no real impact players left on the market.
Teams can still find solid depth options. Colorado, which is looking for talent, could be tempted by the Finnish winger.
His main concern is Laine’s availability. The winger hasn’t played a full season, or anything close to one, since 2019. That’s a red flag that’s tough to ignore.
Last season showed exactly why. In 2025-26, Laine appeared in only five games. That’s a painfully low total for a player expected to provide reinforcements.
Colorado’s cap squeeze makes Patrik Laine a risky bet
The financial side also matters. Laine likely wouldn’t cost much, with some teams even considering offering him a professional tryout.
But Colorado’s situation leaves little room for error. The Avalanche are among the teams with the least cap space, sitting at just $429,159.
Another major file is hanging over the organization. Next year, Cale Makar will need a new contract, which will eat into the club’s flexibility even more.
Under those conditions, every dollar matters. Betting on a player with such serious availability concerns, even at a low price, may be a risk Colorado simply can’t afford.
Laine probably won’t sign for more than one year given his recent seasons. The second-overall pick from the 2016 draft has been reduced to accepting whatever he can get.
Laine remains an elite shooter, yet he doesn’t appear to be in any team’s plans right now. Is his North American career truly in danger, or will he bounce back somewhere else?
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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