The worst possible scenario was raised in the case of Patrik Laine

Patrik Laine’s NHL future is still open, and the Finnish player has not found a new team, even though the free agent market has been active for several weeks.

The Hockey News assesses that the forward’s career is now at a critical stage.

– If Laine gets the opportunity, he could either be a good investment or a money pit that gets thrown out of the NHL, THN writes.

– He has come to a crossroads in his career. This may be his last chance to show that he can be a significant player on a championship contender.

According to the publication, Laine’s difficulties in securing a long-term NHL contract are primarily explained by his injury history. Teams are approaching the Finnish player’s situation with more caution, although there is still interest in him.

The Hockey News highlights particularly Laine’s shot, which is still considered his greatest strength. According to the publication, it could be significantly beneficial for a new team, especially in power play situations.

The magazine believes that the most likely solution is a short so-called show-me contract. This would allow the 28-year-old forward to prove that he can still play at a high NHL level.

According to the assessment, the base salary of the contract would be around one or two million dollars, but performance bonuses could significantly increase total earnings.

– We believe that Laine will sign a short contract with a true Stanley Cup contender this summer.

– A contract would be the best that Laine can hope for at this stage of his career. He would have the motivation to score 20 goals again in a season.

According to The Hockey News, a potential new team should give Laine a significant role in the offense right away. Only then would it become clear how much of his best years are still left.

Laine played only five NHL games last season with the Montreal Canadiens and recorded one assist in those games. In the previous season, he scored 20 goals for the Canadiens.