Are you making that up about Laine? I don't follow his social media a lot but I've seen a few times him with Barkov, but don't see him a lot with Aho nor do I get the impression that the two of them are that close, but again, I don't follow the social media stuff of these guys at all so I wouldn't know for sure.
Anyhow, it doesn't mean "jack shit". It also doesn't mean it's a foregone conclusion either. It's a consideration that is one of many, but one that's in NJ's favor. I still think NJ is the favorite for a lot of reasons, but by no means a lock.