Although the Buffalo Sabres don't currently have a need for another forward ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season, that could change if the front office pulls off a blockbuster trade for Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck before the start of training camp.
The Jets' rumored asking price, at least before Hellebuyck went public with his trade request, included at least one (and maybe two) roster forwards. It's an area Buffalo does have an excess, with 10 centers and wingers currently set to compete for nine spots on the top three lines.
If the Sabres deal from that area of strength to land the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, suddenly the team's front office may be in the market for a little depth up front.
Enter Patrik Laine?
The former 40-goal scorer has struggled with injuries in recent years and he's always dealt with defensive deficiencies, which is why he remains without a contract in late August. There's a growing chance he'll have to accept a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement before camp.
Laine is an intriguing fit for the Sabres if there's no significant financial commitment. Buffalo general manager Jarmo Kekalainen previously acquired the 28-year-old Finland native in a January 2021 trade while leading the Columbus Blue Jackets front office.
The Blue Jackets proceeded to sign Laine to a four-year contract extension in 2022.
"He was a point per game player for us," Kekalainen told reporters at the time. "And went through some struggles [but] when he really got on his game he was dominant at times this year and he can do so many things and he's big and he's got the reach and everyone talks about the shot but I think his passing skills are underrated and we expect him to grow with our group."
Kekalainen was fired by Columbus in February 2024 and the Jackets traded Laine to the Montreal Canadiens during the subsequent offseason.
It's not out of the realm of possibility a reunion may be in the cards.
Sabres could provide UFA Patrik Laine with a perfect sheltered role
Laine's injury history and struggles in his own zone create a situation where he can't be trusted to handle a big-minute, first-line role.
Buffalo wouldn't need him to log 18-plus minutes a night, which is why the fit makes sense.
Instead, the Sabres would likely deploy the 2016 No. 2 overall pick in a modest middle-six 5-on-5 role on a line that'd receive a lot of offensive-zone starts. His main task would be helping upgrade the team's power play, which has struggled quite a bit over the past couple years.
The club's PP was its most consistent weakness last season when it finished 20th in the NHL (19.5%) during an otherwise memorable breakthrough year for the long-suffering franchise.
Laine has recorded 142 career power-play points (85 goals and 57 assists), and his high-end shot could make him the go-to player on Buffalo's second PP unit, similar to the role Tage Thompson plays on PP1.
It's also an ideal environment for the 6-foot-4 winger if he's able to earn a contract from the PTO.
He'd be joining a team with championship aspirations while facing minimal expectations, giving him a golden opportunity to produce a bounce-back season that may garner him a lot more interest if he returns to the NHL free-agent market next summer.
Again, this is more of a potential trickle-down move for the Sabres, who are already dealing with an overcrowded forward group if no other deals are made. And Laine will want to join an organization where he'll have a path to guaranteed playing time, if healthy.
It's something to keep in mind if some Buffalo roster spots open up in a Hellebuyck trade, though.
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