If they give Laine a proper distributor I can see him scoring 40. CBJ didn’t have the complimentary piece he needed (maybe he’s the complimentary piece?).
But my gut tells me he will be a 30ish goal scorer the rest of his career and will be chased out of Montreal by next season.
I think it’s going to come down to his health and his shooting %. He is overdue for a healthy season.
After his blistering start as a teenager his shooting % over the seasons since he has been in his 20’s have been 12.2, 12.4, 12.7, 15.6 (covid year), 12.0, and 14.6
Health wise his last full season was in Winnipeg in 2018-19 he played 82 games. Since then he has played 68, 46, 56*, 55, 18.
Honestly I think there are two Patrik Laine’s. There is the teenage sensation that looked like the world was going to be his oyster. Then he turned 20 and he has been injured allot, he has asked to be traded from two teams, he didn’t progress, and he was a cap dump this week.
I think some fans in Winnipeg are fondly remembering his teen seasons but those are long gone.
* equal’s the Covid season.