Patrik Laine has emerged as a potential Toronto Maple Leafs target, but Nick Alberga sees major questions around his fit.
Laine remains an unrestricted free agent after playing only five games with the Montreal Canadiens last season. The 28-year-old NHL winger is reportedly seeking a short-term opportunity to rebuild his value.
Speaking on Leafs Morning Take, Alberga questioned whether Toronto has a meaningful role available for Laine.
“I do not like the fit,” Alberga said. “Say they sign Patrik Laine, he is the guy who has to be earmarked, in my opinion, to play on that top line.”
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That creates an immediate lineup problem if Laine cannot succeed alongside Auston Matthews. Alberga believes Toronto would struggle to find another suitable role.
“If he’s not a fit in the top line, which you probably find out in the first couple games, then where does he sit?” Alberga asked. “Fourth line, third line, second line?”
Laine’s offensive talent remains attractive. He scored 44 goals with the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18 and remains one of the league’s more dangerous shooters.
Maple Leafs’ roster structure raises bigger concerns
Alberga believes the Matthews connection should not outweigh practical roster considerations. Matthews and Laine went first and second in the 2016 NHL Draft, creating an obvious storyline around a potential reunion.
“On paper, you see that name and you know the affiliation, Auston Matthews, in that draft,” Alberga said. “But I just don’t think it makes sense for a multitude of reasons.”
One concern involves the culture Toronto wants to establish under John Chayka. Laine struggled to establish consistency in Montreal, making another reclamation project difficult to justify.
“It worries me that a team in Montreal couldn’t figure out Patrik Laine,” Alberga said. “Now all of a sudden he’s going to come to the Mecca in Toronto and it’s going to figure itself out.”
The roster also presents another obstacle. Toronto already has significant competition among its forwards, limiting the value of adding another specialist.
“Number two, they got 3,000 forwards on this roster already,” Alberga said.
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From a team-building standpoint, Alberga’s concern is reasonable. Laine could provide shooting depth, but Toronto needs players who fit multiple situations and lineup combinations.
A low-cost contract could reduce the risk, yet the Maple Leafs still need a defined role. Without one, Laine’s name and past production could become more important than his actual fit.
