Patrik Laine remains available, and Peter DeBoer may have a clear role waiting with the New York Islanders.
The Islanders reportedly offered Laine a professional tryout near the opening of free agency. No guaranteed agreement followed, but the connection hasn't disappeared.
Stefen Rosner reports that New York could circle back if Laine doesn't secure a contract elsewhere. That keeps the winger on Mathieu Darche's radar as the summer market tightens.
A tryout would give the Islanders control over the evaluation. Laine would need to earn his spot during camp rather than arrive with guaranteed money and a locked-in role.
For Laine, the opportunity would carry obvious pressure. A player once viewed as a top-six scoring threat is now being linked to a camp audition instead of a standard contract.
The Islanders' interest also points directly at their biggest stated need. Their power play ranked 30th, leaving DeBoer with limited margin when games turned on special teams.
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New York Islanders could give Patrik Laine another NHL opportunity
Laine's appeal starts with his shot. New York wouldn't be bringing him in to drive a checking line or handle defensive-zone assignments.
The fit would be built around controlled entries, offensive-zone starts and power-play touches. That's a defined job, and it gives the Islanders a reason to revisit the conversation.
There's little downside to waiting. Darche can monitor the remaining market while preserving a camp option that doesn't require an immediate roster commitment.
The risk sits with Laine. Other clubs may offer clearer top-six placement, but every week without a guaranteed deal weakens his leverage and raises the value of New York's original proposal.
A tryout would also create real competition inside the Islanders' forward group. Laine's name carries weight, but his place in the lineup would depend on pace, conditioning and whether his shot still changes possessions.
For DeBoer, this would be a specialist bet rather than a full roster solution. The Islanders need more than one shooter, yet Laine could give their second power-play unit a threat opponents must respect.
New York already made its interest known. Unless another team guarantees Laine a contract, the Islanders remain positioned to bring him into camp and see whether one of the summer's quietest links becomes a real roster move.
Should the New York Islanders give Patrik Laine a contract?
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