Patrik Laine is a name to watch for the Pittsburgh Penguins as NHL free agency opens Tuesday, according to Andrew Fillipponi.
Family connections to Pittsburgh add an intriguing layer to this one.
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Fillipponi frames it as a low-risk, high-reward play, drawing a direct comparison to how Pittsburgh handled Anthony Mantha.
That parallel matters. Mantha posted 33 goals and 64 points in 81 games this season for the Penguins at just $2,500,000. A reclamation project that quietly became one of the better value signings in the league.
Laine is a former 40-goal scorer with one of the most dangerous wrist shots in hockey. At his best, he's a power play weapon who changes what a top six can do with the man advantage.
The health questions are real and documented. But Pittsburgh's track record with Mantha shows the organization is willing to absorb that risk when the upside is significant enough.
Pittsburgh finished 41-25-16 this season, tenth overall with 98 points, before losing to Philadelphia in six games in the first round.
They scored 293 goals, fifth in the entire league. Adding a shooter of Laine's caliber to a group that already has Sidney Crosby at $8,700,000 and Evgeni Malkin at $3,800,000 would give them another genuine scoring threat on the second unit.
Laine's shot would immediately upgrade Pittsburgh's power play
Erik Karlsson posted 66 points this season running the blue line on Pittsburgh's power play, but the Penguins could use another trigger on the right side.
Laine has scored 44 power play goals over his NHL career. That skill doesn't disappear.
Bryan Rust posted 65 points this season. Rickard Rakell added 48. The depth is already solid. Laine doesn't need to be a savior, just healthy and motivated.
Family ties plus organizational fit plus a proven template in Mantha. That's a compelling set of reasons for GM Kyle Dubas to make the call Tuesday morning.
Should the Penguins sign Patrik Laine on a low-risk deal this offseason?
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