The Detroit Red Wings’ early-season scoring drought has quietly put them in the market for proven offense, and unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine has drawn internal consideration as a potential short-term answer.
After a shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens left them at 1-3-1 through five games, the Wings have managed just 10 goals total, with four of those coming on the power play.
That output ranks among the league’s lower totals, and the even-strength struggles that have defined much of their recent history remain the primary issue.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Detroit has discussed the possibility of signing the 28-year-old winger for the remainder of the season, though those conversations have not yet produced a direct call to Laine or his camp.
The Finnish forward continues to skate in Florida while weighing his options carefully.
For a team still searching for consistent offensive production, the appeal is straightforward: Laine has reached the 20-goal mark seven times in his career and remains one of the more dangerous pure shooters available on the open market.
The financial structure makes the idea especially practical.
Because Laine appeared in only five games last season, he is eligible for a heavily performance-laden deal in which the guaranteed base salary could sit at or near the league minimum.
That arrangement limits Detroit’s downside if the fit does not materialize or if health issues resurface, while still offering the player meaningful upside if he produces.
The Red Wings already rank inside the league’s top 15 on the power play in a small early sample; adding a player whose biggest strengths have historically shown up with the man advantage could further sharpen that unit without requiring a major roster overhaul.
Questions remain about how much Laine would move the needle at even strength. In his most recent 20-goal season, he scored only five goals at five-on-five, a reminder that his value has often been concentrated in power-play situations.
Detroit’s larger offensive problems have likewise played out away from the special-teams advantage, so simply inserting him into the lineup would not automatically solve the team’s five-on-five issues.
Still, with little to lose on a one-year, incentive-based contract, the Wings can afford to explore whether a healthy Laine can supply the scoring punch that has been missing through the first week of the season.
If the internal discussions eventually lead to an actual offer, the move would represent a low-cost bet on a player who has shown he can still finish when given the right opportunities.
