Chicago Blackhawks Need to Sign Patrik Laine – The Hockey Writers –

The 2026 free agent market was already looking thin before July 1, but as I sit here writing this on July 11, it’s even thinner.

Although there aren’t any needle-moving signings available, one player who’s still on the market that could make some sense for the Chicago Blackhawks is Patrik Laine.

Just hear me out on this, because I’m aware of Laine’s reputation. I’m not saying he hasn’t earned it; there are certainly flaws in his game and reasons to stay away from him.

That being said, I do think there is some value that the Blackhawks can take advantage of for a player who is playing for his career.

Why Signing Laine Makes Sense

I think one of the biggest reasons why this makes sense to me is that there is no risk in signing Laine. The last couple of seasons have been ugly for him, and I think it shows where the league is at with him, considering he doesn’t have a contract.

If you’re going to sign Laine, you will be able to get him on a one-year prove-it deal for very little against the salary cap. In fact, he would actually be eligible for a bonus-laden contract, which means you can give him a base average annual value (AAV) of around $1 to 2 million and give him a bunch of performance bonuses.

Those bonuses could be something tied to games played if you’re concerned about his ability to stay healthy, which is a legitimate concern.

Now, when it comes to how it could play out on the ice, Laine has obviously been massively reliant on the power play. He played just five games last season, but in the 2024-25 season, he played 52 games and scored 20 goals. Fifteen of those 20 goals were on the power play.

He has been awful at even strength, but what he still brings to the table is an elite shot and talent. According to NHL Edge data, his hardest shot speed still sat in the 82nd percentile during the 2024-25 season, and his average shot speed, which is more important, sat in the 98th percentile.

Another issue with Laine is that the work ethic has come into question at times. I’m not denying that it has been an issue for him, and that isn’t something you want your young players seeing so early in their careers, but I’m banking on the fact that this is probably his last shot at staying in the league.

If you can get Laine on a line with Connor Bedard when he returns from the injury, I think there is a partnership there that can work for both guys. The defensive side of the puck might be an issue, but Bedard’s unbelievable playmaking ability with Laine’s lethal shot could create serious problems for the opposition.

I also think Tyler Bertuzzi on the left wing could complete that line. Bedard and Laine can get their cookies and create the dynamic plays while Bertuzzi gets into the dirty areas of the ice. Again, there is going to need to be an improvement from Bedard on the defensive side of the puck to make this work, but I think it would be an exciting line.

Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill would have to keep an eye on this situation because if the effort does dip, there has to be no tolerance for it.

I really don’t see the downside of this for the Blackhawks. I understand not wanting to block development paths for the kids, but a deal like this is so easy to get rid of if it doesn’t work, and giving them some competition is a good thing.

If Laine works out, you’ve got a player who can be a lethal offensive threat on an extremely cheap deal. You would also have the option to sell him at the deadline for more assets and use those assets for a bigger move.

The absolute best-case scenario is that you have an option as a right-winger for Bedard, which I’m not expecting, and the worst-case scenario is that you just put him on waivers and put more trust in the kids instead. I think the reality falls somewhere in between.

This low-risk project signing is something a team like the Blackhawks, who won’t be in the playoff picture, should be looking for.