Laine to train in Switzerland during contract impasse with Jets: report

Patrik Laine will train with SC Bern in Switzerland while he remains unsigned as a restricted free agent with the Winnipeg Jets, Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported Saturday.

The forward did not report to Jets training camp when it opened Friday.
"We'll probably go forward one week at a time," SC Bern coach Kari Jalonen told the newspaper. "He won't play for us this season."

The newspaper said Laine is scheduled to be on the ice with SC Bern on Sunday.
Jets coach Paul Maurice said he was pleased to hear that Laine would work out with a professional team.
"Really, really good. Pro hockey, too," Maurice said. "So I get it, they join their amateur team they used to play with or a junior team but if you can get out on the ice with a pro team, with men there, and they're going to train faster, I'm really happy to hear it, truly."
Laine and Jets forward Kyle Connor are among a group of high-profile restricted free agents who are unsigned, including forwards Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche, Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks, Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames and Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and defenseman Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins.
Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Friday that it's hard to put a time frame on when Laine and Connor would be signed.
"We'd certainly like everything done and ready to go," Cheveldayoff said. "I think that's obviously what everyone's intentions are. If we were the only team in this situation, you might be sitting there wondering what's going on."
Laine had 50 points (30 goals, 20 assists) in 82 games with Winnipeg last season and four points (three goals, one assist) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected No. 2 by the Jets in the 2016 NHL Draft, he has 184 points (110 goals, 74 assists) in 237 NHL games

NHL.com staff writer Tim Campbell contributed to this report