Patrik Laine's NHL return just took another hit, with Peter DeBoer's Islanders now looking unlikely to bring him into camp.
New York had emerged as one of the more logical destinations for Laine after his Montreal Canadiens run ended, especially with the club searching for more danger on the power play.
But that possibility is fading. Stefen Rosner reported that while the Islanders spoke with Laine's camp when free agency opened, he no longer expects a deal to happen.
That changes the picture for Laine with training camp getting closer. A possible Islanders opportunity never developed beyond the possibility of a professional tryout, leaving the winger without the NHL contract he's seeking.
Laine remains unsigned after an injury-heavy stretch in Montreal severely limited his availability. His next team would be betting on the shooting ability that once made him one of hockey's most dangerous finishers.
The fit in New York was easy to understand. The Islanders needed another weapon who could threaten goaltenders from the left circle and give their special teams a different look.
Instead, Peter DeBoer appears likely to enter his first season behind the Islanders bench without Laine in the mix. DeBoer was hired as New York's head coach in April.
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Patrik Laine's options are getting thinner
The bigger concern for Laine is the lack of obvious alternatives. Calgary and Los Angeles are the other teams that have been connected to him during the offseason.
Neither connection has produced a contract, and NHL rosters are becoming harder to crack as teams settle their plans before camp.
A tryout could still become the most realistic route. It would give Laine an opportunity to show teams that his shot, timing and conditioning can still translate into a meaningful top-six role.
For Laine, the challenge isn't name recognition. Teams know exactly what he can do when he has time and space to release the puck.
The question is whether a club is willing to create that opportunity on its roster after his recent availability issues.
New York backing away removes one of the cleaner fits on the board. Laine's comeback hopes aren't finished, but the path back to an NHL lineup just became noticeably tighter.
Will Patrik Laine earn an NHL contract before training camp ends?
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