Could the Chicago Blackhawks provide Patrik Laine with a fresh start?

Does Laine make sense for the Blackhawks?

When looking at the Blackhawks roster, they are in dire need of a goal scorer besides Connor Bedard. Jason Dickinson was the only other player to surpass twenty goals this season, and Laine brings that goal scoring ability.

His contract also fits the current timeline for a lot of players on the roster. Kyle Davidson extended Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, and Petr Mrazek all for the next two seasons, the same amount of years left on Laine's deal.

Over the next two years, the Blackhawks will likely be trying to hit the cap floor, and Laine's $8.7 million will help them do so without having the contract on the books long-term. The deal will end right when Bedard, Korchinski, and Nazar are due for their first contracts, and Laine could get an extension if he finds his footing in Chicago.

Laine would likely not cost the Blackhawks a ton of assets because of the leverage they would have in the trade market. They have the cap space to afford a player like Laine, which would eliminate Columbus needing to retain salary, making this is low-risk high-reward kind of deal.

Adding a player like Patrik Laine would be met with some questions from Blackhawks fans, but he does check a lot of their boxes on paper. Questions aside, Laine is a high-end offensive talent who could be worth consideration from Kyle Davidson and his team. As the offseason approaches, time will tell where Patrik Laine ends up playing next season.