Patrik Laine is living his best life — and it’s about time.
The Blue Jackets winger had been stumbling ever since the Winnipeg Jets traded him to Columbus in January 2021. That transaction — which swapped Pierre-Luc Dubois for Laine and Jack Roslovic — was meant to be a fresh start for Laine, but it had mostly been fresh pain. At least, until lately.
Laine landed in Columbus with all the expectation of a high draft pick (Winnipeg took him second overall in 2016) who’d scored 140 goals in his first 306 games. It was the business side of the game, including a protracted contract negotiation prior to the 2019-20 season, and a slide to the second line that season which ultimately led to Laine’s change of scenery.
Upon his arrival with the Blue Jackets, Laine looked like a shell of his former self. The 23-year-old managed just 10 goals and 21 points through 45 games in 2020-21, bafflingly low production for a player of his talents.
Laine was a restricted free agent last summer and accepted his qualifying offer (one year, $7.5 million) in July. Now he had another season to prove that first season was a fluke. Only this time — another contract year that would end with him as a restricted free agent — didn’t start any better. Laine tallied only five goals and 13 points over 17 games through mid-January. He looked lost, while also grieving the loss of his father.
But looks can be deceiving. Laine was about to become unstoppable.
Gradually, Laine began picking up his pace. And then he was ripping through defenses again, grabbing 13 goals and 21 points in his last 13 games. Only Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have exceeded Laine’s point total since Jan. 27, and Laine paced all skaters in goals over that stretch through Sunday’s games.
It’s no coincidence that Columbus has caught fire right along with Laine, going 9-3-0 over that stretch since late January.
So, what changed exactly? How did Laine get his groove back, and pull the Blue Jackets along with him?
“When you’re feeling it, you’re feeling it. It’s a weird feeling when it’s on,” Laine said last week. “But you still have to work and do all the other things on the ice to be a helpful player. If you get a chance, it’s great if you score. But right now, there’s not the frustration that comes in [if you don’t], because you feel like you’ll get another chance and there’s a good chance it’ll go in. So that’s the difference.”
Laine admitted this span “probably feels like the best I’ve played [in Columbus]” but that individual success means more when it’s adding to the team’s improved standing.
“Since we’re winning, it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “As a top-line guy, I’m expected to perform. It’s great to put some numbers up on the board and help the team that way, it’s good for your confidence. But it’s a lot of fun to win. It was a tough year for everyone last year, as a team and as individuals, but right now it’s a lot of fun to be in the playoff hunt, when every game matters.”
It wasn’t long ago that a postseason berth seemed out of the Blue Jackets’ reach. Now they’re gunning for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, within 10 points of Boston and Washington ahead of them.
While Laine can’t be given all the credit for Columbus’ current run, he’s been an undeniable spark. Knowing there’s another contract negotiation looming doesn’t seem to be weighing on his mind so much now, though. Winning is the ultimate cure-all, the silencer of doubts. All Laine has to do is keep firing. The rest will take care of itself.
“[Laine] has got some confidence with the puck now,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “He wants to shoot the puck, because he believes it’s going to go in. With a shot like that, it gets a little scary for goalies because he’s slinging it right now, and it’s not from the one-timers, it’s from the wrist shots. He’s got a hard wrist shot. We need it, and it’s great to see him on this roll.”
Looking around the league, Laine isn’t the only pending free agent whose stock is on the rise. Here are 10 more who are playing their way into potentially more profitable negotiations in the coming months.
Note: Statistics current through Sunday’s games.
Status: Pending RFA
Qualifying offer: $6,650,000
Age: 23 | Stats: 52 GP | 21 G | 19 A
The way Dubois played last season, you could practically see the asking price on his next contract ticking down (and down).
And then came the glow-up.
Dubois went from flailing to thriving in Winnipeg this season, posting 21 goals and 40 points through 52 games to be on track for career-high totals in both categories. It’s not just Dubois’ output, either. The 23-year-old has played an inspired 200-foot game with strength and speed to spare. In short, Dubois has become the total package Winnipeg hoped for when the team acquired him in a trade with Columbus two years ago.
What does that mean for his contract now? Glad you asked. As an RFA, Dubois does have arbitration rights, something to keep in mind as the process goes along. Given Dubois has played himself back into the mix as one of the NHL’s top young centers, and assuming the Jets are looking to do a long-term extension, something in the ballpark of Kyle Connor‘s $7.1 million annual salary should satisfy both sides (with the caveat that Winnipeg must make corresponding moves to have enough cap space available).
Certainly Dubois should feel much more confident in his negotiations now — and their projected outcome — than he would have eight months ago.
Status: Pending UFA
Age: 27 | Stats: 40 GP | 27 G | 18 A
The Predators star has been the topic of heavy trade speculation, and for good reason. Forsberg is a pending unrestricted free agent having a career year, the type that projects to deliver him a sizeable new contract. Nashville may not be up to the task, making a trade all the more desirable on their end. If Forsberg does hit the trade market, there will be no shortage of suitors for his services.
The 27-year-old winger is on pace to smash his previous career highs already, producing 27 goals and 45 points through 40 games. (Forsberg’s prior bests were 33 goals, in 2015-16, and 64 points, which he’s reached twice.) Forsberg has managed to hit those numbers even while missing nine games because of injury. And if he keeps this up, Forsberg could become the Predators’ all-time leading scorer, currently sitting just five goals shy of David Legwand‘s 210-goal record (which has stood since 2013-14).
Forsberg is finishing out a six-year, $36 million deal now, so what might his next one look like? You could conservatively put him in max-contract territory, something to the tune of $8 million (or more) per season. Assuming that’s too rich for Nashville’s blood, it’s a rare treat for teams when a 30-goal scorer like Forsberg becomes available.
Would it behoove the Predators to hold tight on a Forsberg trade and capitalize on his terrific play themselves with a postseason push? Or does getting something more tangible in return for a player likely to walk make more sense? All we know for sure is that Forsberg is going to get paid this summer.
Status: Pending UFA
Age: 28 | Stats: 53 GP | 22 G | 20 A
There’s a lot to like about Hertl’s progression in San Jose. He’s grown into being the Sharks’ No. 1 center, and is consistently a 20-plus goal scorer while developing a strong 200-foot game. Now, as a pending unrestricted free agent, Hertl has been the offensive backbone for an up-and-down San Jose team slowly fading out of the playoff picture. Despite the team’s struggles, Hertl has 22 goals and 42 points in 53 games, after a slow start with only four points in his first eight games.
The 28-year-old has had some less consistent scoring stretches in calendar year 2022, popping up with six points in two games and then going quiet for a spell (one point in six) only to rise again. Could that be the impact of constant trade chatter and next contract stress? Absolutely. Will it change how Hertl’s value is viewed — as a trade possibility or UFA signing — over the next weeks and months? Not likely. He’s been top-five in scoring among centers throughout the season, and with a little more pick-up in his game down the stretch, Hertl could easily command a new deal in the range of $7.5 to $8 million per season.
Status: Pending UFA
Age: 31 | Stats: 50 GP | 22 G | 44 A
This season was barely half over when Kadri had already set career highs in points and assists. That’s just the kind of campaign he’s having. All told, Kadri’s sitting near the top of the league in scoring with 22 goals and 66 points through 50 games. Even at 31 years old, he’s finally poised to command a seriously big-time contract.
Currently, Kadri is wrapping up the six-year, $27 million pact that Lou Lamoriello signed him to (as a restricted free agent) in Toronto. Talk about a steal. Because although Kadri is over 30, he’s also a pending UFA for the first time, and based on his production will absolutely be jockeying for something north of his $4.5 million annual salary.
Last season, that wouldn’t have been the case. Kadri pocketed just 11 goals and 32 points in 56 games for Colorado in 2020-21, his lowest output in years. It’s been a long road for Kadri to arrive here, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t capitalize.
Status: Pending UFA
Age: 31 | Stats: 26-6-2 | .920 SV% | 2.46 GAA
If Kadri’s season started as one huge, successful swell, his teammate Kuemper’s decidedly did not.
The Avalanche went for broke acquiring Kuemper last offseason, giving up a first-round draft choice and prospect Conor Timmins in a swap with Arizona. Colorado’s new goaltender needed time to get rolling, though, and has benefited from having a high-octane offense capable of covering for his mistakes. So while the 31-year-old was 11-5-0 by mid-December, his .907 SV% and 2.87 goals-against average were mediocre at best.
Then came the shift.
Since Dec. 10, Kuemper has been among the NHL’s busiest goalies, appearing in 22 games for a 17-1-2 record, .930 SV% with 2.20 GAA.
That’s the turnaround Colorado needed to cement itself as a contender this season, and if Kuemper keeps it up he could be cashing in after a long playoff run.
Status: Pending RFA
Qualifying offer: $2,450,000
Age: 25 | Stats: 51 GP | 27 G | 9 A
It could be hard making a name for yourself in Calgary among the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm. Unless you’re Andrew Mangiapane.
For most of this season, he’s been pacing that entire group in goal scoring with a team-leading 27 in 51 games. It’s already far beyond his previous high (18 goals in 56 games last season) and there’s a consistency to Mangiapane’s overall effort that’s allowed him to stand out even among the Flames’ rich stable of talented forwards. And unlike this teammates, Mangiapane wasn’t so highly touted. The 25-year-old came in as a sixth-round selection in 2015. Now he’s about to become a restricted free agent, with an increasingly high asking price.
That being said, Mangiapane’s next contract should be short and sweet. He’s one year away from being an unrestricted free agent (at 27) and his agent, Ritch Winter, is on the record preaching patience about going all-in with the Flames right now. Who else is staying in Calgary? How will this promising season play out, both for Mangiapane and the Flames? The way things are going for him individually, Mangiapane should have plenty of bargaining power now, and into whatever future he decides to pursue.
Status: Pending UFA
Age: 26 | Stats: 28 GP | 11 G | 17 A
Call it the Florida Panthers Effect; it’s like everything that the team touches this season turns to gold. Including Mason Marchment.
For context, Marchment, 26, entered this season having played 37 NHL games, scoring two goals and 11 points. He tallied seven points in 10 games to start the season, then was derailed for weeks by injury. But all was not lost.
Since re-entering the lineup on Dec. 29, Marchment has been a force in the Panthers’ bottom six, producing 10 goals and 21 points in 18 games. He also tied Olli Jokinen‘s franchise record for most points in a game (6) one game, and two weeks later scored his first career hat trick.
That sound you hear? It’s the cash register ringing up Marchment’s next contract, destined to be the most lucrative of his career. How much higher can he push the term and total with a terrific second half (and potential Stanley Cup run)? Time will tell. But considering Marchment is playing now on his richest deal ever (one year, $800,000), expect whatever comes next to hit seven figures annually.
Status: Pending UFA
Age: 26 | Stats: 37 GP | 14 G | 15 A
It’s fair to say some people had written off Nichushkin. There were the lean years in Dallas, the two-season long return to the KHL, another disappointing campaign with the Stars and finally, a move to Colorado.
The Avalanche’s patience with Nichushkin paid off. This season is shaping up to be his best ever, and not a moment too soon for a pending UFA eyeing his next contract.
After overcoming some early setbacks, Nichushkin has blossomed into a secondary scoring presence for Colorado. The 26-year-old matched his career high in goals after just 35 games, and has 14 on the season through 37 contests.
Nichushkin is proving his worth all over the ice, with roles on the power play and penalty kill to boot. This could be the start of Nichushkin’s prime, and when negotiations begin on a new deal — with the Avalanche or someone else — Nichushkin will have plenty of leverage if his star continues to rise in the regular season and beyond.
Status: Pending RFA
Qualifying offer: $787,500
Age: 22 | Stats: 44 GP | 22 G | 25 A
The Stars better get their checkbook ready, because Robertson has played his way into a major payday.
That was hardly a foregone conclusion. The Stars selected Robertson in the second round, 39th overall, of the 2017 draft, and he’s powered his way to becoming their top performer on a point-per-game pace this season. The 22-year-old has already matched or exceeded his previous career highs, producing 22 goals and 47 points in 44 games, coupled with the aforementioned team lead in points per game, with 1.10. He continues to emerge as one of the NHL’s new dynamos, generating offense through superb possession totals.
All that said, the Stars have cap room to spare and should be able to give Robertson his due. And it’s in Dallas’ best interest to go long-term, building a foundation for the future on the back of a burgeoning star who only looks to be getting better. If it’s a max eight-year pact they land on, would an $8 million AAV be out of the question?
Status: Pending UFA
Age: 29 | Stats: 49 GP | 11 G | 26 A
What to do with Ryan Strome?
It’s a question the Rangers have had to ask throughout the past 12 months. The way Strome has exceeded expectations, it’s unlikely he’ll settle when it comes to negotiating his first UFA contract. And given Strome’s soaring trajectory, can New York afford to pay what he’s worth in a flat-cap world?
The answer: Probably not. Yet trading Strome isn’t a great option either if the Rangers intend on going deep into the postseason. All we know for sure is that Strome has played himself into a lucrative long-term deal somewhere.
The 28-year-old has never scored more than 18 goals in a season (he’s at 11, with 37 points, through 49 games) but these days Strome proves nightly he’s a bonafide playmaker capable of keeping top-tier linemates (like Artemi Panarin) well-fed with pucks. Strome is trending towards his best totals ever if this great season of his carries on, which could have him looking at $6 million (or more) per year on the open market. That’s a lot of dough.