Patrik Laine’s Europe Option Has a Deadline

Laine more and more seems like a risk that the NHL is not willing to take, and as time passes, Europe becomes an option that might seem more possible. Most NHL fans and players can take that as a career ender, but that is not always the case.

Patrik Laine Wants the NHL, and the NHL Is Hesitating

A core muscle injury took Laine out five games into last season. By March, he was practicing fully. Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis still said no to activating him, and he never played another game for Montreal. As for his NHL prospects, the injury left him one upside: the time on injured reserve makes him eligible for a one-year deal with a low base and bonuses on top.

The Montreal Gazette’s Herb Zurkowsky pegged that deal at $1 million plus up to $2.5 million in bonuses. He also explained why teams are waiting:

“According to a source, it’s unlikely any team will sign a player like Laine until the summer’s over, players are about to report and a team can confirm his health and, perhaps more importantly, that he is motivated to continue playing in the NHL as opposed to returning to Finland, where much of the pressure might be removed.”

source – ‘Zurkowsky: Former Canadien Patrik Laine could find fit with bargain-hunting club’ – Herb Zurkowsky – Montreal Gazette – 08-05-2026

Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in January 2024 and has spoken openly about his mental health since.

No club in Switzerland or Finland has made him a public offer yet. I think the first thing NHL fans think is that the money in Europe is not there. But it is, just not at the NHL level, and Laine currently has not proved he is at that level.

Swiss Money Can Match His NHL Floor

No European club will pay Laine the $8.7 million a year his last contract averaged. But none of them have to. AFP Analytics’ contract model projects his cap hit at the league minimum of $850,000 (I used the same number when the Anaheim Ducks came up in September).

Swiss clubs pay imports net. They cover the tax, plus housing, cars, and flights. Finnish broadcaster Yle asked player agents what that adds up to for Finns in the National League:

“According to player agents interviewed by Yle Sports, most Finnish players in Switzerland earn 240,000 to 310,000 euros net. The best Finns earn a net salary of more than 380,000 euros.”

source – ‘Miksi suomalaistähdet päätyvät Sveitsiin? Näin Leijonien pelaajat vastaavat’ – Simo Arkko – Yle – 05-28-2026

Zug reportedly will pay Dominik Kubalík a little over 900,000 Swiss francs net a season, perks included. At October 2026 exchange rates, that’s about $1.1 million USD in his pocket. A $2 million NHL deal leaves roughly that much after taxes and agent fees. Lauri Marjamäki (Laine’s coach at the 2016 World Cup) now runs Zug’s bench.

Tappara, the 2026 Finnish Liiga championship team, has the door open but a fraction of the money. Sports director Janne Vuorinen said in July that the club hasn’t talked with Laine, but his answer on a return was simple:

“Of course we’re ready.”

source – ‘Voisiko Patrik Laine palata Tapparaan? “Ilman muuta ollaan valmiina”’ – Riku Teiskonlahti – Aamulehti – 07-27-2026

Tappara coach Kari Jalonen ran the SC Bern team Laine trained with in 2019. Tappara’s whole player budget is about €3.7 million gross. That’s under half his old cap hit, and three Liiga clubs are spending more:

“HIFK enters the season with the largest player budget, saying it will spend exactly four million euros on its team. The next biggest spenders are Kärpät (3.9 million), promoted club Jokerit (3.74), Tappara (3.72), Lukko (3.65) and Ilves (3.45).”

source – ‘SM-liigan pelaajabudjeteissa kovaa nousua: Jokerit ryminällä sisään’ – Antti Rämänen – MTV Uutiset – 08-24-2026

And with the Liiga Super Season pressuring teams to perform or be relegated, there are plenty of teams like Jokerit and HIFK that would love a player like Laine on the team.

Waivers Kick In After Dec. 15

Article 13.23 of the CBA covers players who suit up overseas after the NHL season starts. They have to clear waivers to come back that season. A 2020 amendment to that rule exempts unrestricted free agents through Dec. 15. After that, Laine would be exposed. A low-cost contract would make him an easy claim for any of the other 31 teams.

Kubalík‘s 2024 deal with Ambrì-Piotta let him leave for any NHL contract agreed before Dec. 15. The date passed without one. He scored 27 goals and stayed in Switzerland.

The second cutoff is March 1. A free agent signed after the trade deadline can play the regular season but not the playoffs.

A Year Away Works Best When Someone Holds Your Rights

Leo Komarov is the best-case version. He spent 2013-14 with Dynamo Moscow while the Toronto Maple Leafs held his rights. Toronto re-signed him for four years and $11.8 million, and he made the 2016 All-Star Game.

Jesse Puljujärvi took the Liiga route. The Edmonton Oilers held his rights through a 53-point season at Kärpät in 2019-20 and signed him back in October 2020.

Laine doesn’t really have that safety net. Nobody owns his rights, so a European season could be used as an audition for 32 teams. Nikolai Zherdev tried it as a free agent in 2009-10. He got one season with the Philadelphia Flyers but was on waivers by February.

Finnish NHL commentator Antti Mäkinen said Oct. 1 on the Kimanttia podcast that the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings had been in touch in the past week. Both told Laine’s side to wait. If either team comes through with an offer, none of this Europe talk matters. If they don’t, a European deal with an NHL exit before Dec. 15 buys him time on ice and keeps him waiver-exempt.

Past Dec. 15, Europe is his best bet this season. Then his next clean shot back into the NHL is 2027-28. I think NHL players and fans often write off Europe as giving up, but for a player like Laine, it could be a chance to show he is not done.