Patrik Laine still makes sense for Ryan Huska as Calgary stays in the winger market.
David Pagnotta's latest rundown matters because Calgary keeps showing up in Laine chatter, even as other possible fits look less clean than they did a few days ago.
That is easy to understand from the Flames side. Laine is 28, shoots right, stands 6-foot-4, and still owns the kind of release teams chase when they need more finish on the wing.
The risk is right there too. His 2025-26 season with Montreal lasted only 5 games and produced 1 point, so no team is buying clean certainty here.
But the year before is what keeps the market alive. In 2024-25, Laine scored 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games, which is enough proof that the shot still changes games when he is healthy.
That is why Calgary keeps feeling like a believable landing spot instead of random rumor filler. The Flames do not need Laine to be the old Winnipeg version every night. They need a winger who can tilt a power play and punish teams for giving him space.
" David Pagnotta: Re Patrik Laine: I've mentioned Minnesota, I've mentioned Calgary, I think Calgary's still an option; LA signed like six wingers, so they might not have a place for him; Tampa; the Islanders at one point - DFO Rundown (7/2) "-Calgary just emerged as the favorite in the Patrik Laine sweepstakes
Huska's team can afford that kind of swing more than some people think. The Flames already chose continuity behind the bench, extending Huska after he had the club within 1 point of a playoff spot in 2024-25.
That matters for Laine because this would not be a blind gamble on a broken roster. Calgary can sell structure, a defined role, and real top-6 ice if he earns it.
The money question is where this gets tricky. A player with Laine's résumé has 224 career goals in 537 NHL games, so even after a rough stretch, his camp is not walking in thinking small.
Still, this feels like the kind of move Conroy should at least explore if the term stays under control. Calgary is not getting many chances to buy low on a scorer with this kind of track record.
Minnesota has also been linked, and Tampa has hovered around the noise, which means Calgary would not be bidding in an empty room.
That said, the Flames may have one clean edge here: they can offer Laine a clearer offensive lane than some deeper contenders can right now. That is often what matters most on a bounce-back deal.
So this is where the story sits. Patrik Laine is still a risky player, still a dangerous shooter, and still a real Calgary option. If the Flames want more finish without chasing an older UFA at a bloated price, this is exactly the type of bet worth making.
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